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. Masson met Cumming during this time, and the pair performed some cabaret work together in order to earn Equity cards.

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, 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), Cronie McKay in No Holds Bard (2009),BBC One – No Holds Bard. bbc.co.uk. 2009. Governor Grantham in Dead Boss by Sharon Horgan and Holly Walsh (series 1, episode 5,BBC Three – Dead Boss, Series 1, Episode 5. bbc.co.uk. 2012. 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).BBC One – Father Brown. bbc.co.uk. 2019. 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 Cummingpreview of Babes in the Wood, The List, Issue 56, 11 December 1987 - 7 January 1988, p. 29review of Babes in the Wood, The List, Issue 57, 8 - 21 January 1988, p. 23 1988 Victor and Barry say Goodbye Victor Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh comedy by Forbes Masson and Alan Cummingreview of Victor and Barry say Goodbye by Andrew Burnet, The List, Issue 74, 19 - 25 August, p.13 1989 Clocked Out Doug Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Ben Twist play by John McKenzie"Spinning a Line" by Simon Bayly, The List, Issue 95, 2 - 15 June 1989, p. 26 1990 Elizabeth Gordon Quinn Aidan Winged Horse Hamish Glen play by Chris Hannanreview of Elizabeth Gordon Quin by Mark Fisher, The List, Issue 120, 4 - 17 May 1990, p.66 1990 Laurel & Hardy Stan Laurel The Actors' Theatre of Scotland play by Tom McGraththeatre listing for Laurel & Hardy, The List, Issue 124, 29 June - 12 July 1990, p. 61 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 2026 Lear Gloucester Pitlochry Festival Theatre Finn Den Hertog New adaptation by Finn Den Hertog

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).Masson, Forbes, "Performer's Notes", in Jekyll & Hyde, theatre programme, Royal Lyceum Theatre Company Ltd., Edinburgh, January 2024

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

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

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. 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.

Recording

The soundtrack to the RSC's 2005 production of Twelfth Night with Sianed Jones"Twelfth Night" at sianed.co.uk. Forbes Masson recorded a selection of songs he sang in the RSC, on album John Woolf and Friends."Music for the RSC - John Woolf & Friends (CD, 2011)" at www.rsc.org.uk. Forbes Masson recorded a selection of poetry by Robert Burns."The Great Poets – Robert Burns (selections)" at naxosaudiobooks.com.

References

External links Forbes as Jaques in As You Like It RSC trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iAozWpraJ4 Review of Audio Book reading The Last King of Scotland : https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/jul/27/audiobooks