Forbes Masson

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Forbes Masson

Forbes (Robertson) Masson (born 17 August 1963 in Falkirk) is a Scottish actor and writer. He is an Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has performed in classical theatre, musicals, comedies, as well as appearances in London's West End. He is also known for his comedy partnership with Alan Cumming.[1] Masson and Cumming wrote The High Life, a Scottish situation comedy in which they play the lead characters, Steve McCracken and Sebastian Flight. Characters McCracken and Flight were heavily based on Victor and Barry, famous Scottish comedy alter-egos of Masson and Cumming.[2]

Education

Masson completed a three-year drama course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and has a BA in Dramatic Studies.[2] Masson met Cumming during this time, and the pair performed some cabaret work together in order to earn Equity cards.[2]

Career

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,[2] 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),[1] Cronie McKay in No Holds Bard (2009),[3] Governor Grantham in Dead Boss by Sharon Horgan and Holly Walsh (series 1, episode 5,[4] 2012), Patrick in Catastrophe (series 2) by Sharon Horgan and Rob DelaneyChannel 4 2015, and as Reverend Willard in BBC One'sFather Brown (series 7).[5] Masson also starred in the 2021 film The Road Dance, set on the Isle of Lewis as the Reverend MacIver. In 2023, he appeared in season 6 of The Crown.[6]

Personal life

Masson lives in North London with his wife, Melanie Masson, who was a finalist on The X Factor in 2012.[7] They have two children.

Theatre

YearTitleRoleCompanyDirectorNotes
1987Babes in the WoodVictorTron Theatre, GlasgowMichael Boydcomedy by Forbes Masson and Alan Cumming[8][9]
1988Victor and Barry say GoodbyeVictorAssembly Rooms, Edinburghcomedy by Forbes Masson and Alan Cumming[10]
1989Clocked OutDougTraverse Theatre, EdinburghBen Twistplay by John McKenzie[11]
1990Elizabeth Gordon QuinnAidanWinged HorseHamish Glenplay by Chris Hannan[12]
1990Laurel & HardyStan LaurelThe Actors' Theatre of Scotlandplay by Tom McGrath[13]
2024Jekyll & HydeGabriel John UttersonLyceum Theatre, EdinburghGary McNair's adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella for solo performance
2025The SeagullDr. DornLyceum Theatre, EdinburghJames BriningMike Poulton's adaptation of the play by Anton Chekhov[14]
2025OrphansHaroldJermyn Street Theatre, LondonAl Millerplay by Lyle Kessler[15]
2026The High Life: The MusicalSteve McCrackenNational Theatre of Scotland / Dundee RepAndrew Pantonmusical by Johnny McKnight[16]
2026LearGloucesterPitlochry Festival TheatreFinn Den HertogNew adaptation by Finn Den Hertog[17]

Other theatre includes:

The Breathing House (Gilbert) by Peter Arnott; Art (Yvan) by Yasmina Reza, directed by Kenny Ireland; Stiff! (George Mathieson), directed by Caroline Hall; Much Ado About Nothing (Benedick), his first professional Shakespearean role; at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh (1997).[18]

Writing

Masson has written and composed a series of critically acclaimed Scottish musicals; Stiff!, Mince and Pants.[1]

His one act comedy musical Crackers premiered at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry in December 2011, directed by Michael Fentiman.[19]

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.[20]

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,[21] and Feste in Twelfth Night in 2005. Both productions were directed by then 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 in Stratford-Upon-Avon and at The Roundhouse, Camden, in 2006–2008. His roles in the cycle included Bagot in Richard II,[22] Rumour in Henry IV, Part Two, Chorus in Henry V and King Edward IV in Henry VI and Richard III.

Partnership with Alan Cumming

He co-wrote and performed with Alan Cumming in the situation comedy, The High Life.[1] Masson and Cumming had 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.

In spring 2026, a stage musical adaptation of The High Life (co-written by Masson, Cumming and Johnny McKnight) is touring Scotland featuring the original cast reprising their roles from the TV series.[16]

Recording

  • The soundtrack to the RSC's 2005 production of Twelfth Night with Sianed Jones[23]
  • Forbes Masson recorded a selection of songs he sang in the RSC, on album John Woolf and Friends.[24]
  • Forbes Masson recorded a selection of poetry by Robert Burns.[25]

References

  1. 1234Wilson, S. (2 May 2001). "Forbes Masson: Barking mad, but brilliant". The Independent. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  2. 1234"Mr Flibble Talks To... Forbes Masson | Features | Red Dwarf". reddwarf.co.uk. 5 March 2004. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  3. ↑BBC One – No Holds Bard. bbc.co.uk. 2009.
  4. ↑BBC Three – Dead Boss, Series 1, Episode 5. bbc.co.uk. 2012.
  5. ↑BBC One – Father Brown. bbc.co.uk. 2019.
  6. ↑Knight, Lewis; Robinson, Abby (17 November 2023). "The Crown season 6 cast: Full list of actors and characters". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  7. ↑Castle, Jill (1 October 2012). "Actor's wife Melanie Masson makes it to X Factor final". The Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  8. ↑preview of Babes in the Wood, The List, Issue 56, 11 December 1987 - 7 January 1988, p. 29
  9. ↑review of Babes in the Wood, The List, Issue 57, 8 - 21 January 1988, p. 23
  10. ↑review of Victor and Barry say Goodbye by Andrew Burnet, The List, Issue 74, 19 - 25 August, p.13
  11. ↑"Spinning a Line" by Simon Bayly, The List, Issue 95, 2 - 15 June 1989, p. 26
  12. ↑review of Elizabeth Gordon Quin by Mark Fisher, The List, Issue 120, 4 - 17 May 1990, p.66
  13. ↑theatre listing for Laurel & Hardy, The List, Issue 124, 29 June - 12 July 1990, p. 61
  14. ↑Fisher, Mark (2025). "The Seagull Review". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  15. ↑Akbar, Arifa (2026). "Orphans Review". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  16. 12Fotheringham, Ann (2026). "'Glasgow brought us together, it's lovely to end The High Life tour in the city'". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  17. ↑Fisher, Mark (10 July 2026). "Lear review – this matriarchal monarch's tragedy is personal not political". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  18. ↑Masson, Forbes, "Performer's Notes", in Jekyll & Hyde, theatre programme, Royal Lyceum Theatre Company Ltd., Edinburgh, January 2024
  19. ↑"Crackers website". Archived from the original on 11 December 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  20. ↑"Artistic Director – Gordon Dougall". Limelight Music. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013.
  21. ↑"Profile on: Forbes Masson". scottisharts.org.uk. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  22. ↑"The RSC Prepares For All Eight History Play Performances". life.com. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  23. ↑"Twelfth Night" at sianed.co.uk.
  24. ↑"Music for the RSC - John Woolf & Friends (CD, 2011)"Archived 3 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine at www.rsc.org.uk.
  25. ↑"The Great Poets – Robert Burns (selections)" at naxosaudiobooks.com.