NEW JERUSALEM DEVON
About
From Common Players, in association with Exeter Northcott;
new theatremaking,
A new production, of Jez Butterworths’ play
JERUSALEM
Made in a new way.
Involving local artists.
Teaching new skills.
Best Evening Standard play of 2009, by Jez Butterworth.
JERUSALEM premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London in 2009 and became the Evening Standard’s Best Play of the Year. In part a lament about the erosion of country life and in part a rebuff to the antiseptic modern world, JERUSALEM charts the chaotic and hilarious events over the 24 hours of a local mid-summer festival.
Our NEW JERUSALEM project takes this indoor play and plants it outside, working with local promoters throughout the Westcountry to create a series of mini Midsummer festivals with the play at its centre. Each event will be unique, created in collaboration with the communities we’re travelling to. Expect live music from local bands together with anything from morris dancers to slideshows, hot food to cold local cider. It’s a chance to socialise through the evening and into the night, with a fantastic play at the heart of it all.
This is an outdoor event with no formal seating so please bring blankets, cushions and picnic mats. Food and drink will be available to purchase at all events. No glass permitted on site.
Age 14yrs+
Contains strong language.
Praise for Jez Butterworth’s JERUSALEM:
“A wonderful, rollicking, dark comedy about contemporary life in rural England”
FINANCIAL TIMES
“Unarguably one of the best dramas of the twenty-first century”
THE GUARDIAN
“A bold, ebullient and often hilarious State-of England or(almost)
State-of-Olde-England play”
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Tickets: £10
Exeter Fri & Sat Party Nights: £12
Concs: £2 off
Available via:
Box Office: 01392 493 493*
And through community locations
*A £2 fee applies to all payments over £10 made by card or cheque
About the play:
On the morning of the local county fair, in his encampment on the edge of town, Johnny "Rooster" Byron, ex daredevil rider and modern day Pied Piper, is a hotly wanted man. The council officials want to serve him an eviction notice, his son, Marky wants his dad to take him to the fair, Troy Whitworth wants to give him a serious kicking and a motley crew of mates want his ample supply of drugs and alcohol. Johnny wants his freedom, as an Englishman living in the woods, and he wants all his friends and acquaintances to rise to the challenge of living the full, exuberent, caring and passionate life he believes an Englishman should aspire to.
About our process:
In order to deliver this unique and challenging project, we wanted to build a strong team of local aspiring professionals and skilled amateurs. Towards the end of 2013, we put out the call for South West based performers and theatre makers keen to volunteer and be a part of a community company. In addition to the cast opportunities, a variety of intern and volunteer positions were offered to develop skills alongside a professional team.
Around 120 people got in touch wanting to be a member of the cast and crew - ranging from college and university students looking to gain experience, graduates exploring the arts industry, people in full and part time work wanting to pursue something different, and those enjoying retirement but looking for a new challenge. Throughout February and March 2014, via regular free workshops, interviews, and auditions, we built our team of cast, chorus and crew. Take a look at our gallery here for further info and images of our actor workshops.