The Director of this production is Philip de Grouchy
A member of The Maskers for over 50 years, Philip has played quite a variety of parts over those years - latterly several 'cameos' in Notes from a Small Island, the Public Prosecutor in Murder in the Citizens' Jury, Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet and, most recently, the alternately unctuous and irascible General Tilney, owner of Northanger Abbey. Philip has been in the Christmas show many times and directed quite a number of them. The last ‘straight’ play he directed was Blithe Spirit.

The Musical Director is Juliette Ribi
Juliette studied Music at Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge where she was also on stage for music-based productions.
She has worked in the teaching and music teaching profession for over 25 years, has played for amateur dramatics and is a Music Worship leader. As well as playing and teaching the flute and piano, Juliette also enjoys singing. Juliette joined Maskers for our tour of Northanger Abbey in the summer.

The Cast

Sue Dashper
During Sue’s years in Maskers, she has been involved in many and varied indoor productions including: Northanger Abbey, Winter Sparkles, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Out of Focus, Contractions, Metamorphosis, Sitting Pretty and An Italian Straw Hat. Her open-air appearances include: 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 joined Maskers in 2014 and has been involved with many shows in a variety of roles, both on and off stage. Acting highlights have included: The Merry Wives of Windsor, Sharks in the Custard, Much Ado About Nothing, The Picture of Dorian Gray and several Christmas Shows including last year's Winter Sparkles. She is looking forward to getting into the Christmas spirit with this year's Merry Maskerade.

Angela Raistrick
This is Angela’s first production with Maskers. She has been performing from a young age, dancing for the first time as a sugarplum in The Nutcracker at the age of 3 and taking part in junior performances at the Nuffield Theatre. She has studied many different styles of dance from the age of 3 right up until notably dancing a paso doble at 8 months pregnant! She studied Performing Arts at College and has performed with a choir throughout Southampton, including a Christmas flash mob inside John Lewis.

Graham Buchanan
Graham is a founder member of Maskers and has been very actively involved throughout the fifty-seven years of our existence. Graham has been involved in every type of play and part, from playing Don Pedro in the first Maskers’ production of Much Ado about Nothing in 1968/1969, through directing such shows as The Taming of the Shrew, The Comedy of Errors, Lock Up Your Daughters, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Merry Wives of Windsor, playing parts in very many shows, taking care of Maskers’ business and marketing, building and painting sets and generally being an amazing all-rounder, to playing a lovely cameo in Sharks in the Custard.

Ken Hann
Ken joined the Maskers in 1969. His first acting role was as Vermin in The Soldier's Fortune. Vermin, being an old and decrepit servant, meant a great deal of aging makeup and a bald pate. No aging would be required now if he played it again!
In the intervening years Ken has acted in many plays and directed for the company at the Nuffield, the Studio, Open Air and on tour.
Ken has always enjoyed anthologies as an opportunity to play a variety of characters in one evening.

The standby pianist is Allegra Carlton
Allegra will be taking over the piano to accompany the carols on some shows. She has been involved in theatre for fifty years as actress, wardrobe mistress, singer and musician. She joined Maskers in 2007.

Tickets £15

No concessions

Customers are requested to arrive promptly as late comers cannot be admitted. PLEASE NOTE: Doors do not open until 7pm!

On arrival at the Masker’s Studio

• Please give your name (or the name the tickets were booked under) to our Box Office receptionist, and they will confirm your booking.
• If you have pre-ordered a programme you will be given it on arrival. Programmes will also be available for purchase from a FOH member.
• For the safety of all our audience members and staff are still operating some Covid risk reduction actions.  Please use the hand sanitising stations on arrival.  We will also be increasing the fresh air circulating throughout the venue.
• Wearing of face coverings is optional.
• Our bar will be open for purchases of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.  We would encourage you to pre-order your interval drinks, to assist our bar staff and reduce crowding at the bar.
• We are now able to take, and prefer, card payments but can also take cash.

During your visit

• A stairlift and disabled toilet facilities are available.
• Hand sanitiser will be available for your use at various points around the theatre building.
• We have installed an extra extractor fan to vent studio air to the outside pulling fresh air in from the other side of the building.
• Where possible windows will also remain open.  This may make the venue cooler than you are used to, so please be prepared.
• Enhanced cleaning will take place throughout the venue before, and after the performance.
• The taking of photographs or videos whilst the show is on is not permitted.

Exiting the building/event at the end of the performance

• When leaving, please do not crowd the stairwell and allow everyone to leave easily and quickly.
• As you go down the alleyway, please take extra care and keep to the marked footpath as the road is very uneven.
• Please take any rubbish with you or leave it in the bins provided.

What if I have specific access needs?

• The stair chair lift is available and our FOH staff will assist you should you need to use it.
• Any other requirements may be discussed with our Box Office manager in advance of your arrival.

What happens if a show is cancelled?

• If we are required to cancel a performance, we will offer you tickets for an alternative performance.