MIDSUMMER at The Barn Theatre in Cirencester
Mercury Theatre and Barn Theatre’s English premiere production of David Greig and Gordon Mcintyre’s play with songs
MIDSUMMER
Arriving at the Barn Theatre from 22 May - 22 June 2024
The English premiere production of Midsummer will arrive at Barn Theatre on 22 May running until 22 June after the show’s critically acclaimed two-week stay at Mercury Theatre Colchester comes to an end on 18 May. Press night at the Barn is Friday 24 May at 7pm.
Penned by award-winning playwright, David Greig and composed by songwriter Gordon McIntyre, Midsummer is a rose-tinted musical rom-com that provides a fast-paced, funny look at love, life and the ache of aging.
Described by The Gazette (Colchester), as “HILARIOUS, incredible, and different. 5 Stars!” and by BritishTheatre.com, as “a gorgeous, unmissable production”, this show marks the first co-production between Barn Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester.
One Midsummer night in Edinburgh, two ill-matched thirty-somethings – a high-powered, hard-drinking lawyer called Helena, who’s stuck in a dead-end affair with a married man, and a small-time crook called Bob – collide with one another for one short night of wild abandon, with hilarious consequences. It’s an unlikely coupling as both are all too aware, but it’s Midsummer and anything can happen…
The Mercury Theatre’s outgoing Creative Director Ryan McBryde (Baskerville, The Comedy of Errors) directs the riotously funny, touchingly romantic 90-minute tour d’amour in all its drunken, heartfelt glory.
The cast of Midsummer are Ross Carswell (Girl From The North Country – UK Tour) as ‘Bob’, Karen Young (Kidnapped – National Theatre of Scotland) as ‘Helena’, Will Arundell (Kinky Boots – New Wolsey Theatre & Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch) as ‘Narrator 1’ and Laura Andresen Guimarães (Unbelievable – Mercury Theatre & West End) as ‘Narrator 2’.
Joining McBryde on the creative team is Libby Todd as Designer, Paul Herbert as Musical Director, Rory Beaton as Lighting Designer, Mark Melville as Sound Designer, Chihiro Kawasaki as Movement Director, Natalie Gallacher for Pippa Ailion Casting as Casting Director and Chani Merrell as Assistant Director.
McBryde said of the show, “David Greig is one of our most exciting writers and we're delighted to be sharing his and Gordon McIntyre's multi award winning romantic comedy with our audiences. Full of laughs and tinged with hope, this play with songs is an inventive, laugh out loud, love-song to everyone who has ever felt stuck in a rut: reminding us that no matter how repetitive, dull, or hopeless our lives might seem, change is always possible.”
Iwan Lewis, CEO & Artistic Director, Barn Theatre said, “We are already seeing the huge creative benefits of good theatrical partnerships like the Mercury and the Barn. Midsummer has opened to rave reviews and wonderful audience reactions in Colchester, and there will be more to come when it arrives in Cirencester. This show deserves a life beyond these two venues.”
Tickets can be bought at www.mercurytheatre.co.uk and www.barntheatre.org.uk.
Explore Gloucestershire
14 May 2024
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