Midsummer

by David Greig, Gordon McIntyre

Midsummer's weekend in Edinburgh. It's raining. Bob's a failing car salesman on the fringes of the city's underworld. Helena's a high-powered divorce lawyer with a taste for other people's husbands. She's totally out of his league; he's not her type at all. They absolutely should not sleep together. Which is, of course, why they do.

Midsummer is the story of a great lost weekend of bridge-burning, car chases, wedding bust-ups, bondage miscalculations, midnight trysts and self-loathing hangovers.

A collaboration between playwright David Greig and singer-songwriter Gordon McIntyre, Midsummer opened at the Traverse Theatre in October 2008 and was revived for an international tour in the summer of 2009.

Genres: Plays

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

David Greig is a Scottish dramatist. He was born in Edinburgh in 1969 and brought up in Nigeria. He studied drama at Bristol University and is now a well-known writer and director of plays. He has been commissioned by the Royal Court, the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company and was Artistic Director of the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh from 2015 until 2025, when he left to return to writing.

His first play was produced in Glasgow in 1992 and he has written many plays since, produced worldwide. In 1990 he co-founded Suspect Culture Theatre Group with Graham Eatough in Glasgow.

His translations include Camus' Caligula (2003), Candide 2000, and When the Bulbul Stopped Singing, based on a book by Raja Shehadeh. Danmy 306 + Me (4 ever) (1999) is a play written for children.

David Greig's plays include The American Pilot (2005), about America's involvement in the Middle East and Eastern Europe; Pyrenees (2005) about a man who is found in the foothills of the Pyrenees, having lost his memory; and San Diego (2003), a journey through the American dream. His latest works are Gobbo, a modern- day fairytale; Herges Adverntures of Tintin, an adaptation; Yellow Moon (2006); and Damascus (2007)

Reviews

[Pippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this, and it did have some very funny moments. I also like the fact that the play has songs in. I have only read it and not seen it, so it's possible it feels more satisfying in the theatre. It's really an experiment in where theatre can go next, and I also like that aspect of it. Why then am I only giving it three stars? It may just be that I'm not really a city person, and this is very much a city person's story, but I think the deepest reason I'm giving it three stars is that - when reading it - it feels flimsy, and unsatisfying. I'd like to give it more as it does some brave and interesting things.

[Salli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very confused by the script. I found it hard to recall what was narrative and what was real time. I was also confused as there were no character names against each part.
I agree with who ever said it felt "slight". Great for its context, its humour etc but I am left wondering what is different about this play, does it have something to say in alongside its unusual style and presentation. Too trite perhaps, too simple and inevitable, but like all these things performance may add another dimension

[Carenza · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really did not like this play. I could not work out what the plot was. Just wasn’t for me

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful and hilarious and thought provoking... couldn't help being reminded of 'Nick and Nora...' (the book, not the movie), except this is certainly more adult, more serious and more Scottish. But wonderful none-the-less.

[Lynsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. So beautiful. I only wish I'd seen it in peformance. Sigh.