The Traverse Theatre Co Presents MIDSUMMER (A PLAY WITH SONGS)

Midsummer (a play with songs) is the international highlight of Sydney Theatre Company’s 2012 Main Stage season. This highly acclaimed production from Edinburgh’s renowned Traverse Theatre follows previous international offerings at STC from Dublin’s Abbey Theatre (2011’s Terminus) and Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre (2010’s August: Osage County). Midsummer (a play with songs) previews at the Sydney Opera House from 1 February and opening night is Monday 6 February at 8pm.

It then tours to Canberra,Wollongong and Brisbane.

Midsummer (a play with songs) is a joyous rom-com with a touch of the tartan by playwright David Greig and Gordon McIntyre of indie folk-rock group Ballboy. Lawyer Helena and petty criminal Bob are thrown together in dubious circumstances, sharing a drunken one-night-stand. So begins an extraordinary lost weekend of bridge burning, car chases, wedding bust-ups, Japanese rope-bondage gone wrong and self-loathing hangovers. Beginning as a hit at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Midsummer (a play with songs) has gone on to sell out seasons throughout the UK and internationally. It is performed by the original cast members, the enchanting duo Cora Bissett and Matthew Pidgeon.

David Greig is one of Scotland’s leading playwrights and his work has been commissioned by London’s National Theatre, the Royal Court and the RSC. Earlier this year, Greig’s play The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart (National Theatre of Scotland) was a sell out success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Other plays include The Cosmonaut’s Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union, Damascus and Europe. His version of Euripides’ The Bacchae with Alan Cumming as Dionysus opened the Edinburgh International Festival in 2007.

Actor Cora Bissett is also an award winning director, known for one of the most talked about pieces of theatre at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Roadkill, which then went on to tour to Paris and London. Matthew Pidgeon’s credits include Caledonia (National Theatre of
Scotland), The Cherry Orchard (Royal Lyceum Theatre), and The Wonderful World of
Dissocia (Tron Theatre, Drum Theatre & EIF).

Following the run at the Sydney Opera House, Midsummer (a play with songs) tours to
Canberra Theatre Centre (28 – 31 March), Merrigong Theatre Company in Wollongong (3 –
7 April), and Brisbane’s La Boite (10 – 28 April).

Director: David Greig; Songwriter: Gordon McIntyre; Designer: Georgia McGuinness;
Lighting Designer: Claire Elliot; Dramaturg: Katherine Mendelsohn.
Cast: Cora Bissett and Matthew Pidgeon.
Box Office: (02) 9250 1777. sydneytheatre.com.au
Tickets: $40 - $90 (transaction fees may apply)

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