show
The Maskers' Studio Theatre

9th - 14th December 2024

at 7:30pm.

Telephone bookings 0333 666 3366

'Start Christmas with the Maskers!'

Winter Sparkles will make the perfect start to your Christmas!

Join members of the company for this delightful evening and enjoy a mince pie and glass of mulled wine or fruit punch (included in the ticket price), whilst watching the show.
This year’s Christmas Anthology is a fun, sometimes light-hearted, sometimes nostalgic, sometimes poignant, mixture of songs, poems, prose and a short play written around the theme of Winter and Christmas, as we join a varied group of villagers having to plan a Christmas event for their community with only a draughty barn as a venue. It features items old and new, some well-loved classics and some pieces written specifically for Maskers – including the finale, Maskers’ Nativity, where things may not go quite as planned.

Director & Cast

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
...

Daniel Chopra
...

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
...

Dawn Gatrell...

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
...

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.

tba
...

Creative Team

Production Manager
Abi Linnartz
Stage Manager
Emily Smith
Set Design
Clive Weeks
Set Construction
Tuesday Team
Set Painting
Pete & Hazel Burrows and several other Maskers
Set Dressing
Angela Stansbridge
Lighting Design
Clive Weeks
Lighting Assistant
Kathryn Salmon
Sound Design
tba
Lighting & Sound Operators
tba
Wardrobe & Costumes
tba
Properties
Lucy Lockyer & Meri Mackney
Rehearsal Prompt
tba
Show Photography
tba
Poster Design
Clive Weeks
from an idea by Anna Hussey

Ticket Information

Tickets £15

No concessions

Ticket price includes a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine, or fruit punch.

Customers are requested to arrive promptly as late comers cannot be admitted.

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.

Poster, Flyer & Programme


Programme
Available after the performance

For the Maskers

Technical Manager:- Jamie McCarthy;   Lighting Consultant:- Clive Weeks;   Sound Consultant:- Jamie McCarthy;   Marketing Team:- Angela Stansbridge, Clive Weeks, Robert Osborne, Meri Mackney, Paul Baker;   Front of House & Box Office Manager:- Chris Baker;   Photographer:- Clive Weeks;   Bar Manager:- Meri Mackney
 
 
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Shirley's own LOCAL theatre!

Maskers Theatre Company
Off Emsworth Road
Shirley
Southampton
SO15 3LX

Registered Charity 900067

Established 1968

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