Forbes Masson
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Forbes Masson (born August 17, 1963, Falkirk, Scotland) is a British actor and writerwho is loved by many. He best known for his classical theatre roles and comedy partnership with Alan Cumming.
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[edit] Television
[edit] Partnership with Alan Cumming
Masson’s first television appearances were in the late 80s, including an episode of Taggart. He is most famous for writing and performing alongside Alan Cumming in the situation comedy, The High Life. Masson and Cumming also formed a cult Kelvinside musical double act "Victor and Barry", which was filmed for an stv show[1] and were nominated for a Perrier Award in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1988, toured Australia in 1989, playing the Sydney Opera House, but were killed off onstage at the London Palladium in the early 1990s.
[edit] Other Roles
Other notable television roles include: Stan Laurel in the episode Meltdown of the sitcom, Red Dwarf; Eck in the 1992 comedy series, My Dead Dad; Rodney Morris in EastEnders (2000); Tam Flood in "Hamish Macbeth" (1996) As well as various roles in Is It Bill Bailey?(1998) He also played rock band manager Art Stilton in Channel 4 cult comedy "The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star" (1998).
[edit] Theatre
[edit] Writing
Masson has written and composed a series of critically acclaimed Scottish musicals; "Stiff", "Mince" and "Pants". He directed the semi- autobiographical "Mince" with The Dundee Rep Theatre Ensemble and it was nominated for best musical in The Barclays TMA awards in 2001.
At the Tron Theatre, Glasgow from 2001-2005 his alternative Christmas Pantomimes including "Aladdie" and "Weans in the Wood" were hugely successful. It was at the Tron theatre that he first worked with Michael Boyd.
He has also worked with Gordon Dougall's Sounds of Progress music theatre company promoting disability inclusivity in the Arts.
[edit] RSC
After many years performing in countless Scottish theatre productions, Masson is now a leading actor with The Royal Shakespeare Company. His most recent roles include Horatio to Toby Stephens'"Hamlet" in 2004, and Feste in "Twelfth Night" in 2005. Both productions were directed by RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd. He is currently working with Boyd again, performing in the RSC Histories cycle from 2006-2008 in Stratford-Upon-Avon. His roles in the cycle include Bagot in Richard II, Rumour in [[Henry IV, Part Two, Chorus in "Henry V"and King Edward IV in "Henry VI" and "Richard III".
Masson is an Artistic Associate of The National Theatre of Scotland