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. 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.

Education Masson completed a three-year drama course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and has a BA in Dramatic Studies. Governor Grantham in Dead Boss by Sharon Horgan and Holly Walsh (series 1, episode 5, 2012), Patrick in Catastrophe (series 2) by Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney Channel 4 2015, and as Reverend Willard in BBC One's Father Brown (series 7). 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.

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

Theatre Year Title Role Company Director Notes 1987 Babes in the Wood Victor Tron Theatre, Glasgow Michael Boyd comedy by Forbes Masson and Alan Cumming 1988 Victor and Barry say Goodbye Victor Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh comedy by Forbes Masson and Alan Cumming 1989 Clocked Out Doug Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Ben Twist play by John McKenzie 1990 Elizabeth Gordon Quinn Aidan Winged Horse Hamish Glen play by Chris Hannan 1990 Laurel & Hardy Stan Laurel The Actors' Theatre of Scotland play by Tom McGrath 2024 Jekyll & Hyde Gabriel John Utterson Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Gary McNair's adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella for solo performance 2025 The Seagull Dr. Dorn Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh James Brining Mike Poulton's adaptation of the play by Anton Chekhov 2025 Orphans Harold Jermyn Street Theatre, London Al Miller play by Lyle Kessler 2026 The High Life: The Musical Steve McCracken National Theatre of Scotland / Dundee Rep Andrew Panton musical by Johnny McKnight

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).

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

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.

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, 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, 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.

Recording

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