The Maskers has its own premises - a studio/workshop acquired and converted with lottery funding in 1994 - where equipment and wardrobe are stored and set construction takes place. Since then our activities, both technical and social, have flourished. Most rehearsals take place there and we present "studio productions" for the enjoyment of members and their guests. There is also a comfortable bar area where members and guests can relax and enjoy a drink with friends and where smaller meetings and social events take place.

We consistently stage a full annual programme of productions and events. Our principal venues are: - Hamptworth Lodge, near Romsey in July in the open air, and the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton in January or February; we also put on performances in various locations in Hampshire including the superb mediæval Tudor Merchant's Hall in Southampton.
 

In our open air productions we have striven to ensure  that our audiences are treated to a truly memorable evening’s entertainment, with galloping horses, cannons, diving off bridges and buildings, spectacular fireworks, boats on the river, grand balls, staged battles, swashbuckling and all manner of lighting and effects. Along with our careful attention to costumes our performances are often reviewed as being of a professional standard; all of this is enhanced by the beautiful setting in which we are privileged to perform.

The Nuffield Theatre, located on the Southampton University campus, is one of the country’s leading regional theatres for pre-West End shows/touring productions under the auspices of artistic director, Patrick Sandford. We nestle in alongside these and the famous faces. It is always a pleasure to work at the Nuffield, it is a thriving theatre which, having undergone refurbishments in recent years, has become even more attractive to theatre goers. There is a very active youth theatre education scheme here as well.
 

Part of our continued success is the ensemble feel of our productions which not only makes for a professionally tight performance but also generates a sense of energy and a feel-good factor which is always appreciated and noted by our audiences. We are also nominated regularly in the local awards competition and have won several awards for our outdoor productions. Since the Daily Echo Curtain Call Awards were inaugurated in 1999, Maskers have been awarded Best Actress and Best Director for Lysistrata; Best Actor and Best Director for The Hypochondriac.

Our membership is very broad, embracing all age groups, including people who have retired from full-time occupations. We extend a warm welcome to people from every part of society and from all ethnic groups. The studio has a stair lift for people with limited mobility. We see ourselves as something more than just another amateur theatre club. We provide a range of advantages and opportunities to members, depending on their needs, and play an important part in the local community.

Our Membership page gives more details but, in short, we aim to be a company where making friends and having some fun are a major focus, where we can all enjoy that buzz from being associated with high quality productions of a professional standard, where it is a pleasure to be involved, not a chore, and where people's capabilities are actively developed. We are very proud of the fact that some of our existing and former members’ experience with us has been a springboard to studying and performing as professionals. If you are interested in becoming a member of The Maskers, please see our Join Us page.