Jez Butterworth’s latest play Jerusalem, which enjoyed a rapturous reception when it opened at the Royal Court in July, is to transfer to the West End’s Apollo theatre in early 2010.
The entire Royal Court cast, which was led by Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook, will return when Jerusalem opens on 10 February, following previews from 28 January.
Jerusalem, which is described as ‘a comic, contemporary vision of life in our green and pleasant land’, finds Rylance playing Johnny Byron, a local waster who is a wanted man. The council wants to serve him an eviction notice, his children want their dad to take them to the fair, Troy Whitworth wants to give him a good kicking and his motley crew of mates want his handy supply of drugs and alcohol.
Laurence Olivier Award-winning actor Rylance is the former Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe who last appeared in the West End when he starred in hit comedy Boeing Boeing. The production subsequently transferred to Broadway, along with Rylance, where he won a Tony Award for his performance. Before reprising his role as Johnny Byron, Rylance is to star in Endgame at the Duchess theatre this autumn. He joined the Complicite production of Beckett’s play to replace Richard Briers, who chose to withdraw when Adrian Scarborough had to leave the company.
Crook is best known for his screen work, rising to fame as Gareth in multi award-winning sitcom The Office, before taking a leading role in the successful Pirates Of The Caribbean movies. His last London stage outing came at the Royal Court, where he appeared in The Seagull, which was also directed by Jerusalem’s director Ian Rickson.
Rylance and Crook are joined in the West End by Jessica Barden, Tom Brooke, Greg Burridge, Lewis Coppen, Alan David, Aimeé-Ffion Edwards, Lenny Harvey, Gerard Horan, Danny Kirrane, Charlotte Mills, Lucy Montgomery, Sarah Moyle, Dan Poole, Harvey Robinson and Barry Sloane.
Prior to the transfer of Jerusalem, the Apollo theatre will play host to a pair of crowd-drawing comedians. Ross Noble is currently performing his show Things at the Shaftesbury Avenue venue. He will be followed from 26 October by Dylan Moran: What It Is.
MA