The Director of this production is Rob Iliffe
This is Rob's directorial debut for Maskers. The last time he directed a play it was staged in the back of a large removal van...
So, it's with ironic trepidation he looks forward to Northanger Abbey out on tour!
Rob first appeared in Maskers' outdoor production, Jane Eyre, followed by Almost, Maine, Murder in the Studio and Romeo and Juliet. He's also made an occasional splash with set painting in-between shows.
Other performances include: Southampton Mummers Play in St Michael's Square and The Hound of The Baskervilles at MAST Mayflower Studios for SUP.
Northanger Abbey is Rob's favourite Jane Austen novel, (although there are two he hasn't read yet) and he hopes this production will be a fitting celebration for her 250th anniversary.
Catherine Morland is played by Katarina Smith
This is Katarina's second appearance with the Maskers. Katarina first joined Maskers for Pygmalion in 2016. She then went off to university but, having returned to Southampton, she is excited to be playing the rather silly and over-imaginative, but funny, Catherine. Previous experience included playing Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Margot in The Diary of Anne Frank, Alice in Alice Through a Broken Glass and The White Witch in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Annette / Mrs Morland / Mrs Thorpe is played by Sue Dashper
During Sue’s time in Maskers, she has been involved in a variety of productions including: Winter Sparkles, 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.
Mr Morland / John Thorpe is played by Simon Mewett
Simon has performed in a wide range of Maskers productions: from the heartfelt vignettes of Almost, Maine; the literary intensity of Jane Eyre; the swashbuckling adventure of The Three Musketeers and onto Love & Power, scenes from Oscar Wilde (a BBX Production, performed in the Studio).
In this, Maskers’ contribution to the Jane Austen 250-year anniversary celebrations, Simon is delighted to be playing Richard Morland, Catherine's dad, as well as the obnoxious John Thorpe.
Mrs Allen is played by 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.
Henry Tilney is played by Neil Maddock
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Isabella Thorpe is played by Samantha Richards
Samantha is excited to join Maskers as the scandalously charming Isabella. This is her second time on stage, though she’s been performing unofficially in classrooms for years as a drama and English teacher. She’s a lover of Austen and thrilled to be part of such a spirited production.
Eleanor Tilney is played by Emily Smith
Emily briefly studied acting at Academy of Art University and has been a Masker for over two years, both on stage and behind the scenes. She has appeared in Almost, Maine, Murder in the Citizens' Jury, and was the lighting designer for Notes from a Small Island. As an aspiring novelist and Austen fanatic, Northanger Abbey has presented a delightful opportunity for her to spread her wings and dive into the world of Regency fiction.
James Morland is played by Matthew Grant
Matthew has performed in many different theatre shows since the age of 14, mainly in musicals and pantomimes, and now, at 29, is in his first Maskers’ production. He hopes you thoroughly enjoy the show.
General Tilney is played by 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, and Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet. He now looks forward to personating the alternately unctuous and irascible General Tilney, owner of Northanger Abbey.
Dimity O'Flynn / Ensemble is played by Kate de Haviland
After acting 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 in 2020 and has since played Elvira in Blithe Spirit, Susan in Murder in the Studio and Naomi in a brand-new production, Murder in the Citizens’ Jury. As a lifelong Jane Austen fan, she's very excited to be part of this summer production.
Ensemble / Musician is played by Teo Russo
Teo is a Southampton based actress who joined Maskers in 2024 and was most recently seen portraying Pauline in Murder in the Studio. She is enthusiastically awaiting to see how performing live music in front of an audience will go after a 15-year hiatus.
Musician 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.
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