The Directors
The Director of this production is Meri Mackney
Meri has been a Masker for more years than she cares to remember and has been involved with many shows both on and off-stage. She most recently appeared in Murder in the Studio and The Merry Wives of Windsor, and her last production was Jane Eyre, which she adapted and directed. She has been a regular performer in the Christmas Shows and thinks this is the third Christmas Show that she has directed. When she isn’t in/directing the show (and sometimes when she is!) she will be found in the bar serving mulled wine and mince pies.
Assistant Director of this production is Jenni Prior
Jenni joined Maskers in November 2023 for Almost Maine, and has a long history of acting, directing and backstage roles before Maskers. She was the joint director of Murder in the Studio and is looking forward to being involved in her first Maskers’ Christmas Show.
Musical Director for this production is Peter Liddiard
Peter has been a member of Maskers for nearly 40 years, during which time he has been involved with various aspects of Maskers’ productions, including acting, producing and set design & construction. However, this is his first outing as Musical Director, and he hopes people will forgive the odd “bum” note. Peter was also a member of A Motley Crew Theatre Company and has been a very active member of the Chesil Theatre in Winchester for nearly 50 years.
The Performers
Clare Britton
Clare is comparatively new to Maskers. She did the costume design for Agatha Christie's Murder in The Studio and played Devanika in Murder in the Citizens’ Jury. Theatre has been very much in her life starting with classical ballet and gaining qualifications in Theatre Makeup, Wig Making and Management. She has been a sound design technician and directed in community theatre. Some of her favourite roles include Adele in Die Fledermaus, Thelma in Pack of Lies, Conrade in Much Ado About Nothing, Mary in Flint Street Nativity, Winsome in Bombshells and Alison in Searching. Clare is enjoying being in something a little more light-hearted.
Daniel Chopra
This is Daniel’s fourth play with Maskers, having previously been in The Three Musketeers, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and most recently, Murder in the Citizens’ Jury. Daniel joined Blue Apple theatre company in Winchester in 2017 and appeared in many plays with them before joining Maskers. For Blue Apple, his appearances include: The Wizard of Oz, The Tempest, The Railway Children, Much Ado about Nothing, Frankenstein, A White Christmas, Pinocchio and Macbeth. Blue Apple supports performers with learning differences to develop and present high-quality productions. Daniel has cerebellar ataxia.
Sue Dashper
During Sue’s time in Maskers, she has been involved in a variety of productions including: The Merry Wives of Windsor, Out of Focus, Contractions and Metamorphosis in the Studio and Sitting Pretty and An Italian Straw Hat at the Nuffield Theatre. Sue has appeared in many open-air productions including: Much Ado About Nothing, Don Quixote, Around the World in Eighty Days, The Jungle Book, Anne Boleyn, Treasure Island, Twelfth Night and Jane Eyre.
Jill Desborough
Jill has been involved with many shows in a variety of roles, both on and off stage. Acting credits have included: The Merry Wives of Windsor, Sharks in the Custard, Much Ado About Nothing, Christmas with the Cratchits, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Almost, Maine and, most recently, Murder in the Studio. Jill always enjoys performing in the Christmas shows.
Dawn Gatrell
Dawn previously performed in pantos at The Bent Brief pub and in The Shadow Factory, which premiered at the Nuffield City Theatre. Dawn joined Maskers in August 2022 and has since appeared in a variety of productions: The Merry Wives of Windsor, Gormenghast, Time and Tide, Almost, Maine, Cash on Delivery and, most recently, Murder in the Studio. She’s looking forward to spreading some festive cheer in Maskers’ sparkly Christmas production.
Katy de Haviland
Having acted in the Midlands as a child, Katy studied Drama and Performing Arts at college before joining her local theatre company. After a 20-year break, she joined Maskers last May and has since played Elvira in Blithe Spirit, Susan in Murder in the Studio and Naomi in a brand-new production of Murder In The Citizen's Jury. She's now looking forward to being part of something very different with the Christmas show!
Molly McDade
Molly’s most recent roles with Maskers Theatre were Florrie in Murder in the Studio, Prunesquallor in Gormenghast, and Martha in Christmas with the Cratchits. Molly has been part of Maskers since 2014. Apart from appearing in various Maskers' productions, including The Jungle Book, A Bunch of Amateurs and Around the World in Eighty Days, she is also a member of Southampton Operatic Society and has appeared in Legally Blonde and Crazy for You at MAST Studios. She is enjoying the comedy and music in this festive production.
Bandy Smith
This is Bandy’s third show with Maskers, having previously been in a couple of pantomimes with another company, He was Bob Cratchit in Christmas with the Cratchits, and he played a police officer in Sorry! Wrong Chimney! As well as doing shows, he also helps out behind the bar and with catering at our summer show.
Brian Stansbridge
Brian has been a member of Maskers for fifty years and during that time has performed in many, many productions. His most recent performances have included Time & Tide and Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Brian is also a regular Director for the Maskers. In recent times, he has directed Much Ado About Nothing, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Servant of Two Masters, The Comedy of Errors and The Man in The Iron Mask, as well as several Christmas productions at the Makers Studio in Shirley. He directed our recent open-air production of Romeo and Juliet. When not busy with Maskers and grandparent duties, Brian sings and plays guitar and keyboard in a covers band, which he absolutely loves. We guess that performing is just part of his DNA.