WHEN is a musical not a musical? Easy. When it’s called “Midsummer” and the production is from Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre.

We will be seeing this non-musical in a couple of weeks at The Playhouse and I’ve been talking to actor Matthew Pidgeon, who’s been in the show since its creation by British playwright David Greig and Scottish singer/songwriter Gordon McIntyre, of indie band Ballboy.

Pidgeon, a veteran actor raised in Edinburgh, isn’t the world’s greatest fan of musicals, but that’s no problem because he says firmly that “Midsummer” isn’t one.

In fact, he says: “The show is defined by what it isn’t – not another musical and not a conventional rom-com… it’s been built as the play for people who don’t like musicals.”

“It’s a play with songs, shagging, bad behaviour and incredible warmth,” he says. “Prepare yourself for a great lost weekend of bridge burning, car chases, wedding bust ups, bondage miscalculations, midnight trysts and self-loathing hangovers.”

Pidgeon explains that it’s about two people, Bob and Helena, around the age of 35 whose mishaps involve stolen money.

“It all begins with a bang – a one-night stand that is – when two unsuitable people get together,” he says.

Pidgeon even gets to play the guitar in it and, along with his co-star, Cora Bissett, he does pretty well everything. “We play all the parts, do all the roles, speak all the voices and play the musical instruments,” he says.

It’s been a huge critical success, winning a Critics’ Award for Theatre in Scotland.

“Midsummer (a play with songs)”, at The Playhouse, March 28 to April 3, bookings to 6275 2700 or canberratheatrecentre.com.au