Mercury Theatre and Barn Theatre announce revival of Midsummer
The Mercury Theatre in Colchester and the Barn Theatre in Cirencester are set to stage a new revival production of David Greig and Gordon McIntyre’s play with songs, Midsummer.
The play is scheduled to run from 3-18 May at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester, before moving to the Barn Theatre in Cirencester from 22 May to 22 June.
This collaboration marks the first joint production effort between the two regional venues.
Written by the acclaimed playwright David Greig and featuring music by Gordon McIntyre, Midsummer is described as a rose-tinted musical romantic comedy that delves into themes of love, life, and the complexities of aging.
The story unfolds over a Midsummer night in Edinburgh, bringing together Helena, a successful lawyer trapped in a lacklustre affair, and Bob, a small-time criminal.
Despite their vastly different lives, the pair embark on a night of unexpected adventure and connection, exploring the comedic and romantic potential of their unlikely pairing.
The cast of Midsummer will be 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.
Ryan McBryde, the Mercury Theatre’s creative director known for his work on productions such as Baskerville and The Comedy of Errors, will direct the play.
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.
He said: “We are delighted to be producing with The Barn, Cirencester. Both our organisations are committed to producing exceptional and entertaining theatre with care, skill, and creativity. Our co-production of David Greig’s and Gordon McIntyre’s romantic comedy, Midsummer, will be no exception.”
Iwan Lewis, CEO & Artistic Director, Barn Theatre added: “In today’s world, it’s crucial for theatres to adapt and seek innovative approaches to their productions. For a small, independent theatre like the Barn, which harbours large aspirations yet operates without subsidies, finding the right partners can prove challenging. With the Mercury, we’ve discovered an incredibly inspiring ally. They not only share our vision but have also broadened our horizons, showing us what’s possible at the next level. ‘Midsummer,’ is a musical comedy that I’ve hoped to stage for many years and is the perfect production for our first collaboration.”
For more information and tickets, visit www.mercurytheatre.co.uk and www.barntheatre.org.uk.
