Jerusalem - Audition Notice

Thursday 29th October - 7.30pm

Performance Dates: Saturday 13th - Saturday 20th March

Often cited as the greatest British play of the century, Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem is a warts and all elegy to rural England. Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron is a Romany ex-showman who lives in a caravan in the middle of an ancient wood. The youth of the local village is drawn to this puck like character, enthralled by his tall tales, his other worldly wisdom and his freely available drugs and alcohol. Some, Like Ginger, are hapless hangers-on, some are seeking refuge from difficult home lives and others are seeking escape. All are seeking purpose and connection.

The council is planning to evict him from his ‘illegal encampment’ to make way for a new housing development and many of the local residents are happy to sign the petition to rid the area of his ‘corrupting influence.’ What’s more, Phaedra, a 15yr old girl and last year’s May Queen, has gone missing and suspicion falls on Johnny.

The action takes place on St George’s day and the annual May fair is taking place in a nearby field. As police muster for the impending eviction, Johnny tries, like a latter-day Watt Tyler, to wage war on the authorities and rally his increasingly intoxicated acolytes. He also has to contend with his ex-wife. He had promised to take his 10yr old son to the fair!

Will this be Johnny’s last stand? Will he get his comeuppance? Will his motley crew stick by him? Or, will the giants that built Stonehenge come to his rescue? This is a raucous comedy. There are frequent expletives, references to sex and use of drugs and alcohol. There is one particularly violent scene.

The action takes place in Wiltshire and all the characters live locally. Therefore, we do need some strong west country accents but there is scope for variation here. Playing age is important as there need to be clear generational distinctions but the cast should otherwise reflect the diversity of modern Britain.

Audition pieces available on request – simon.hellyer@gmail.com

The Characters:

Phaedra – playing age of 15yrs, vulnerable, escaping from abuse at home, she needs to be able to sing sweetly at the opening of the play and to dance a duet at the end.

Ms Fawcett - A local council official aged 30 – 50yrs, pompous jobsworth but insecure about asserting her authority

Mr Parsons – A local council official aged 30 – 50yrs, inept side-kick, not used to being out of the office and disconnected

Johnny Rooster Byron – A Romany ex-showman, 50 – 70yrs who ‘despite a slight limp, moves with the balance of a dancer or animal.’ A demanding lead role with several longish monologues

Ginger – Out of work plasterer and would be DJ, aged 30 – 45yrs, Ginger hasn’t grown up. He is desperate to be cool and fit in and he worships Johnny.

Professor – Bumbling, elegiac, retired academic with mild Dementia, aged 65 – 80yrs. The Professor is the literary voice of the play, referencing Blake and ancient texts.

Lee Piper – New age dreamer, playing age 20 – 25yrs, Lee is desperate to escape from mundanity but is frightened to fly.

Davey – Playing age 20-25yrs, salt of the earth, abattoir worker, went to school with Lee. Gets a nose bleed if he leaves Wiltshire. Ideally needs to be able to learn to play an accordian or similar instrument at a very basic level

Pea – Playing age 15-18yrs, hyperactive, tearaway, space cadet

Tanya – playing age 15-18yrs, provocative, funny, flirtatious

Wesley – old friend of Johnny; worn out, unfit, middle aged pub landlord, slave to the brewery and his wife. Rubbish Morris dancing essential.

Dawn – Johnny’s ex-wife. Playing age 30 – 50yrs - Strong minded, astute, trying to make a living and raise her son properly (doubles as Ms Fawcett)

Marky – playing age 10yrs, two scenes and just a couple of lines

Troy Whitworth – Thuggish 40 – 50yr old, step-father of Phaedra. Powerful scenes with Johnny (doubles as Mr Parsons)