Forbes Masson

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Forbes Masson

Forbes Masson (born 17 August 1963 in Falkirk) is a Scottish actor and writer. He is an Artistic Associate with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre of Scotland.[1] He is best known for his classical theatre roles and comedy partnership with Alan Cumming.[2] Masson and Cumming wrote The High Life, a Scottish situation comedy in which they play the lead characters, Steve McCracken and Sebastian Flight. Characters McCraken and Flight were heavily based on Victor and Barry, famous Scottish comedy alter-egos of Masson and Cumming.[3]

Personal life

Masson completed a three year drama course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dramaand has a BA in Dramatic Studies.[4] Masson met Cumming during this time and the pair performed some cabaret work together in order to earn Equity cards.[5] He lives in North London with his wife Melanie Masson, who was a finalist on ITV’s The X Factor in 2012. They have two children, Rua (daughter) and Ramsay (son). [6]

Television

Masson's first television appearances were in the late 1980s, including an episode of Taggart. He played Stan Laurel in the episode "Meltdown" of the sitcom, Red Dwarf;[3] 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), working alongside Simon Pegg. He also played rock band manager Art Stilton in Channel 4's cult comedy The Young Person's Guide To Becoming a Rock Star (1998).[2] Cronie McKay in No Holds Bard (2009)[7] and most recently Governor Grantham in Dead Boss (Series 1, Episode 5[8])(2012).

Theatre

Other theatre includes:

The Breathing House (Gilbert), Art (Yvan), STIFF (George Mathieson), Much Ado About Nothing (Benedick): Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh[2]

Endgame (Clov), The Trick is to Keep Breathing (Dr Green), Dumbstruck (Herman Katz), The Real Wurld (Claude), Cinzano (Pasha), Tron Theatre Glasgow

Laurel and Hardy (Stan Laurel) Assembly Edinburgh/Wellington Festival NZ

The Life of Stuff (Fraser): Donmar Warehouse, London

Loose Ends (Callum), Wormwood (Artemis) Traverse Theatre Edinburgh

He also appeared as The Fool to Pete Postlethwaite's King Lear, directed by Rupert Goold at The Everyman Theatre in Liverpool Autumn 2008 and the Young Vic in early 2009 with Headlong Theatre Co.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Mr Tumnus) Threesixty Theatre in Kensington Gardens Directed by Rupert Goold and Michael Fentiman. Music by Adam Cork. www.lionwitchtheshow.com

Writing

Masson has written and composed a series of critically acclaimed Scottish musicals; "Stiff", "Mince" and "Pants".[2] 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. Masson wrote segments for Michael Boyd’s Pilate Project at The Other Place.[9]

His new comedy musical psychopanto, "Crackers" premiered at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry in December 2011, directed by Michael Fentiman.[10]

He has also worked with Gordon Dougall's Sounds of Progress music theatre company (renamed Limelight in 2010) promoting disability inclusion in the Arts. Dougall was the musical director for the Forbes Masson shows Crackers, Stiff! and Mince?.[11]

RSC

Masson is an Artistic Associate with the RSC and was in The Royal Shakespeare Company acting ensemble from 2003 to 2011. His roles included Horatio to Toby Stephens' "Hamlet" in 2004,[12] and Feste in "Twelfth Night" in 2005. Both productions were directed by RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd. He also played Porter in Dominic Cooke's "Macbeth" and Dromio of Ephesus in Nancy Meckler's "Comedy of Errors". He played Judas in "Pilate Project" He performed in Boyd's critically acclaimed Histories cycle from 2006–2008 in Stratford-Upon-Avon and The Roundhouse, Camden. His roles in the cycle included Bagot in Richard II,[13] Rumour in Henry IV, Part Two, Chorus in "Henry V"and King Edward IV in "Henry VI" and "Richard III". In 2009 he played Samson in Boyd's production of "The Grain Store". He played Romeo opposite Kathryn Hunter's Juliet in Ben Power's adaptation of Romeo and Juliet called "Tender Thing". He played Merlin in Greg Doran's production of Mike Poulton's "Morte d'Arthur". He played Gena in "Ahasverus" directed by Michael Fentiman, at the Hampstead Theatre. Most recently he appeared as Jacques in Boyd's "As You Like It" and Friar Lawrence in Rupert Goold's production of "Romeo and Juliet". Both plays came to the Roundhouse in Camden in late 2010. They played Park Avenue Armory in New York in summer 2011.

Partnership with Alan Cumming

He co-wrote and performed with Alan Cumming in the situation comedy, The High Life.[2] Masson and Cumming met at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 1982 where they formed a cult Kelvinside musical double act "Victor and Barry", which they performed on the alternative comedy circuit. They were nominated for a Perrier Award in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1988, played the Donmar Warehouse and toured Australia in 1989, playing the Sydney Opera House. The characters were killed off onstage at the London Palladium in the early 1990s.

Masson is also an Artistic Associate of The National Theatre of Scotland.

He is married to singer and 2012 X Factor contestant Melanie Masson. They have two children and live in North London.

You can follow Forbes Masson on twitter @forbesmasson

Recording

The soundtrack to the RSC's 2005 production of "Twelfth Night" with Sianed Jones http://sianed.co.uk/twelfth-night

Forbes recorded a selection of songs he sang whilst with the RSC and these can be found on John Woolf and Friends http://www.rsc.org.uk/shop/item/62105/

Forbes reads a selection of Robert Burns poetry http://www.naxosaudiobooks.com/196812.htm

References

  1. ↑ http://www.vivienneclore.com/writer/forbes-mason/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Wilson, S. (2 May 2001). "Forbes Masson: Barking mad, but brilliant". The Independent. Retrieved 29 October 2010. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Mr Flibble Talks To... Forbes Masson | Features | Red Dwarf". reddwarf.co.uk. 5 March 2004. Retrieved 29 October 2010. 
  4. ↑ http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/features/interviews/forbes-masson/index.cfm?page=interview
  5. ↑ http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/features/interviews/forbes-masson/index.cfm?page=interview
  6. ↑ http://www.vivienneclore.com/writer/forbes-mason/
  7. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00h6s1b
  8. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kg9qb
  9. ↑ http://www.vivienneclore.com/writer/forbes-mason/
  10. ↑ Crackers website
  11. ↑ http://limelightmusic.org.uk/?page_id=89
  12. ↑ "Profile on: Forbes Masson". scottisharts.org.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2010. 
  13. ↑ "The RSC Prepares For All Eight History Play Performances". life.com. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2010. 

External links

Forbes as Jaques in "As You Like It" RSC trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iAozWpraJ4

Victor and Barry sing their eighties hit, Kelvinside Men http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t04qzYLzoc

The High Life opening titles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tSDb-t3cFU

Guardian review of "Twelfth Night" http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2005/dec/14/theatre1

Daily Telegraph review of "As You Like It" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/8267640/As-You-Like-It-RSC-Roundhouse-review.html

Guardian review of "Mince" http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2001/may/08/theatre.artsfeatures

Image of Forbes as Feste in "Twelfth Night" http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/42-15647501/forbes-masson-in-twelfth-night

Review of Audio Book reading "The Last King of Scotland" http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/jul/27/audiobooks

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