Full cast for theatre premiere announced

The Barn Theatre in Cirencester and Colchester's Mercury Theatre have announced the full cast and creative team for their English premiere production of David Greig and Gordon McIntyre’s play with songs Midsummer.

The production marks the first co-production between the two venues.

Penned by award-winning playwright David Greig and composed by songwriter Gordon McIntyre Midsummer is billed as a rose-tinted musical rom-com that provides a fast-paced, funny look at love, life, and the ache of ageing. 

The co-production will run from 3-18 May in Colchester and 22 May – 22 June in Cirencester.

Iwan Lewis, CEO and Artistic Director at the Barn Theatre, said: “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.”

The work is set 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."

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. 

Tickets can be bought at www.barntheatre.org.uk and www.mercurytheatre.co.uk