GUY MASTERSON - Short General Biography (updated Feb 2026 - 550 Words)

Guy Masterson is British born actor, theatre director and Olivier Award winning producer based in London. Born in 1961 the son of Marian James and Carl Mastroianni and raised in Port Talbot, South Wales and London, England, his lineage in the entertainment industry is remarkable; his maternal uncle was the actor Richard Burton. His father's second cousin once removed was the Italian superstar Marcello Mastroianni! The two lines come together in Guy!
After gaining a Joint Honours degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry from Cardiff University in 1982, he emigrated to the USA and, following stints in the restaurant business and as a carpenter, he started acting in Hollywood shortly after Burton died in 1984. In 1985 after 5 years and 4 years as a professional actor, he returned to the UK where he attended the prestigious LAMDA - the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art - after which he formed his own theatre company, Boy's Own Productions, (later Guy Masterson Productions) in 1992.
His first production was a remount of Peter Flannery's debut play, a solo, "The Boy's Own Story". This led to a 9 month stint in the West End with Robert Lindsay in "Cyrano De Bergerac". Then came his breakthrough show...a solo version of Dylan Thomas' 'Under Milk Wood' in 1994 which had never before been attempted. The show was an immediate hit and he went on to give over 2000 performances over 33 years all over the world.
He followed this in 1995 with a second literary masterpiece, a solo adaptation of George Orwell's "Animal Farm" which soon became hugely popular.
His 4th solo work, 'Fern Hill & Other Dylan Thomas' in 2001 garnered him The Stage Best Actor Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. He was soon globally regarded as one of the finest exponents of solo theatre and specifically the works of Dylan Thomas.
He soon dedicated himself largely to directing and producing new works and promoting new talent, with an emphasis towards the solo-show genre in which he has become pre-eminent being creatively involved in over 50 productions. Of the top-ten globally-successful solo-shows of the past three decades, performing 12, directing 25 and writing or presenting the rest. This experience culminated in originating and directing the Olivier Award winning 'Morecambe' - a solo play about the beloved English comedian - in 2009.
He has the most successful and award-winning independent theatre producer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival having presented over 150 shows in 31 seasons. He also holds the box-office record for theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe - which he first broke with his comedian-studded production of '12 Angry Men' in 2003; then again in 2004 with 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' starring Christian Slater and Mackenzie Crook, and again in 2005 with 'The Odd Couple' starring Bill Bailey and Alan Davies. His 2005 multi-award winning Australian production of '12 Angry Men' also holds the box office record for touring drama down-under. His most recent directorial hit was 'The Shark Is Broken' in 2019 which played triumphantly in London's West End in 2021/22, and nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Comedy or Entertainment. It then opened on Broadway for 19 weeks in August 2023.
His theatrical commitments have largely precluded his involvement in mainstream film and TV, but he credits his love of theatre and literature to his 'Uncle Richard" (as in Burton) who introduced him to the poetry of Dylan Thomas in 1981 while he driving together to Switzerland in a Mini Cooper S! And he credits his love of cinema to the incredible influence of the three iconic stars once in his orbit - Burton, Elizabeth Taylor Marcello Mastroianni - an extraordinary legacy.
He is married since 1999 to Brigitta with whom they have two beloved girls, Indigo and Tallulah.

GUY MASTERSON - Director Biography (updated Feb 2026 - 470 Words)

Guy studied drama at UCLA and LAMDA. Globally renowned as a solo-performer of 'Under Milk Wood', 'Animal Farm,' Shylock' and 'A Christmas Carol', Guy began directing in 1991 with Peter Shaffer's 'The Public Ear & The Private Eye' In 1993 he directed his frist one person play, 'Playing Burton' about his uncle, Richard Burton. Since then he has directed many shows, 25 of which were solos. Over 31 consecutive seasons at the Edinburgh Fringe since 1994, Masterson has presented over 150 shows and produced/directed several of its most celebrated hits including Pip Utton's ‘Adolf’ (1999); '12 Angry Men' (2003) - which smashed all box office records, for which he received Edinburgh's most prestigious prize - The Jack Tinker 'Spirit of the Fringe' Award among several others. In 2004, he originated the West End smash, 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' starring Mackenzie Crook & Christian Slater. In 2005, he directed Edinburgh's biggest box office hit to date, 'The Odd Couple’, starring Bill Bailey and Alan Davies. In 2008, Justin Butcher's 'Scaramouche Jones'. In 2009, Rebecca Vaughan's 'Austen's Women,' and 'Morecambe' the latter transferred to the West End and won WOS & TMA awards, plus a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment. In 2018, Guy co-wrote and directed 'The Marilyn Conspiracy’, and in 2019, 'The Shark Is Broken’ which transferred triumphantly to the West End in 2021/22 and was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, and opened on Broadway in August 2023. In 2023, he directed Peter Tate's 'Picasso: Le Monstre Sacre' for The Playground Theatre, London, and co-drected 'The Marvellous Elephant Man- The Musical' in Adelaide and Melbourne. He also directed a new production of 'The Shark Is Broken’ in Martha's Vineyard for JAWS 50.

Over its 31 years presenting at the Edinburgh Fringe, his company, Theatre Tours International Ltd, has become the most highly awarded & nominated independent theatre production company, garnering 8 Scotsman Fringe Firsts, 3 Herald Angels, 3 Stage Best Actor Awards (plus 24 further Stage Award nominations) and 1 Stage Best Ensemble Award, together a plethora of lesser awards and accolades.
Other Directorial credits include: 'Animal Farm' with Sam Blythe; 'Shaving The Dead' (2019) 'Michael Brandon's Off Ramps' (2017); 'Chopping Chillies', 'Absolution' (2016); 'Cinderella', 'Dylan Thomas: The Man, The Myth, 'The Devil's Passion' (2015); 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Bill Clinton Hercules', 'Animal Farm' (full cast) (2014); 'The Odd Couple', 'Beauty And The Beast' (2013); 'Female Gothic', A Soldier's Song', 'Imperial Fizz' (2012); 'The Diaries of Adam & Eve' (2011); 'Long Live The King', 'I, Elizabeth' (2010); 'Austen's Women' (2009); 'Reasonable Doubt', 'Scaramouche Jones' (2008); 'Follow Me', 'The Mistress' (2007); 'The Eagle Dances', 'Levelland' (UK & OZ), 'Cooking With Puccini' (2006); 'The Odd Couple', 'Swift' (2005); 'Borge Again!', '12 Angry Men - Oz' (2004); '12 Angry Men - UK' (2003); 'Goering's Defence', 'A Slight Tilt To The Left' (2002); 'Resolution', 'Mom, I'm Not A Lawyer' (2001); 'All Words For Sex' (2000); 'Adolf' (1999); 'Hollywood Screams II' (1998); 'Bye Bye Blackbird' (1997); 'The House Of Correction' (1996); 'Playing Burton' (UK 1994, NZ 2002); 'The Private Ear & The Public Eye' (1991).

He is married to Brigitta and father to Indigo and Tallulah...

GUY MASTERSON - SHORT Director Biography (updated Feb 2026 - 215 Words)

Guy studied drama at UCLA and LAMDA. Globally acclaimed as a solo-performer, Guy began directing in 1991 with Pter Shaffer's 'The Public Ear & The Private Eye' In 1993 he directed his frist solo, 'Playing Burton' about his uncle, Richard Burton. Since then he has directed 40+ more shows, of which 25 were solos. Over 31 consecutive seasons at the Edinburgh Fringe since 1994, Masterson has presented over 150 shows and directed several of its most celebrated hits: ‘Adolf’ (1999); '12 Angry Men' (2003) - which smashed all box office records, and for which he received Edinburgh's most prestigious prize - The Jack Tinker 'Spirit of the Fringe' Award among several others. In 2004, he originated the West End hit, 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' starring Mackenzie Crook & Christian Slater. In 2005, he directed Edinburgh's biggest box office hit to date, 'The Odd Couple’, starring Bill Bailey and Alan Davies. In 2008, Scaramouche Jones. In 2009, 'Morecambe"- which transferred to the West End and won WOS & TMA awards, plus a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and a nomination for the performer. In 2018, Guy co-wrote and directed 'The Marilyn Conspiracy’, and in 2019 'The Shark Is Broken’ - which transferred triumphantly to the West End in 2021/22 and was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Comedy or Entertainment and transferred to Broadway in August 2023. .Most recently, he directed Peter Tate's Picasso: Le Monstre Sacre for The Playground Theatre, co-drected 'The Marvellous Elephant Man- The Musical' in Adelaide and Melbourne, a new production of 'The Shark Is Broken’ in Martha's Vineyard for JAWS 50 and 'The Marilyn Conspiracy' at the Park Theatre, London.

GUY MASTERSON - Short Actor Biography (updated Feb 2026 - 500 words)

Guy Masterson is a British actor, director, producer & writer. He was educated at Christ's Hospital School and then Cardiff University where he graduated BSc Joint Honours (Magna Cum Laude) in Biochemistry & Chemistry. He then studied drama at UCLA before starting an acting career in Hollywood in 1985. Guy returned to the UK in 1989 to study further at LAMDA, after which, he formed his own theatre company, Guy Masterson Productions, in 1991.
Guy began solo performing in 1991 with 'The Boy's Own Story' which led to a 9 month stint in the West End with 'Cyrano de Bergerac' starring Robert Lindsay & Julian Glover at the Theatre Royal Haymarket playing Bellerose. During this engagement, he learned the entire text of Dylan Thomas' 'Under Milk Wood' which he then opened as a solo show at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh in February 1994 to huge acclaim. His first Edinburgh Fringe, the subsequent August, was a complete sell-out. He followed this, in 1995, with a solo adaptation of George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' again at the Traverse and then the Edinburgh Fringe, the success of which launched Guy's international career and lured him away from mainstream work. The following 29 seasons at the Edinburgh Festival saw his association with some of Edinburgh's most celebrated hits as either actor, director or producer.
As an actor, he was first nominated for Edinburgh's top acting award; The Stage Award for Best Actor for 'A Soldier's Song' in 1998, and then won it with his 4th solo piece, 'Fern Hill & Other Dylan Thomas' in 2001. He was nominated again for 'Under Milk Wood' in 2003 and, in 2011, he received his latest nomination for The Stage Best Solo Performance for 'Shylock'. In 2003, he also received the Edinburgh's most prestigious accolade, The Jack Tinker 'Spirit of the Fringe' Award.
His list of theatre credits over 37 years in the business is too extensive to be listed, however, favourite roles include Juror 4 in '12 Angry Men', both Hamlet and Claudius in tw productions of 'Hamlet', Iago in 'Othello', Mercutio in 'Romeo & Juliet', Henry in Henry V, Oscar in 'The Odd Couple', Mick in 'The Caretaker' and Dame Dotty La Douche in 'Beauty & The Beast' (Panto). In 2016, he entered the stand-up comedy world with "Love & Canine Integration' which was subsequently re-titled 'Barking Mad'. in 2017, Guy created a critically acclaimed production of 'A Christmas Carol' which tours every year over November to January. In addition to his solo work, his most recent role was Dr Engleberg in 'The Marilyn Conspiracy'.
His producing and directorial commitments have largely kept Guy away from the mainstream but Film and TV acting remain his passion. Footage of him can still be found online as a Welsh thug in 'Casualty' (2005 Christmas Special), the Fire Chief in 'Dirty War' (2005) and as Peter Sutcliffe's agent in Chris Morris' infamously banned episode of 'Brass Eye'. He is also famous in Germany and Austria since 2007 as the quizzical, beer swilling Franziskaner Monch!

(For Actor Headshots, click Here)

GUY MASTERSON BRIEF GENERAL BIOGRAPHY (updated Feb 2026)

Guy Masterson is an Olivier Award winning producer, actor, director and writer. An entertainer for 40 years, he has worked on over 150 live theatre shows. He is one of the most highly awarded independent presenters at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival over 31 consecutive seasons ince 1994. As a theatre director, he is responsible for several of Edinburgh's biggest hits. As an actor, he is globally renowned for his award winning solo performances. He is also a successful director of corporate events, a playwright, a screenwriter, a dramaturg and an acting, voice and corporate coach.

See also: THEATRE TOURS INTERNATIONAL COMPANY HISTORY