Theatre Preview: Jerusalem, Adam House Theatre

EDINBURGH Graduate Theatre Group (EGTG) take a trip to that green and pleasant land south of the border in their latest production, Jerusalem, at the Adam House Theatre on Chambers Street.

It’s St George’s Day, the morning of the county fair, an event much anticipated by the locals, yet a prevailing sense that the day is yet again going to be a disappointment prevails.

Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron, a former Evel Knievel-like motorcycle daredevil, is a wanted man. Council jobsworths Linda and Luke want to serve an eviction notice on the derelict mobile home in which he has lived for decades.

However, wannabe DJ Ginger, Davey a young abattoir worker, the elderly confused Professor and Wesley the Morris Dancing local pub landlord flock to Johnny to hear his stories and get high with him.

Director Ross Hope said “I wanted to put on something modern that would be challenging, interesting and entertaining for the group and most important, something I actually liked. I am now hopeful that I have found all this in Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth.

“You may recognise the title; it was originally performed at the Royal Court in London in 2009 and went on to a win a number of Olivier Awards the following year, most notably for both Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook for their roles of Rooster and Ginger.”

Jerusalem, Adam House Theatre, Chambers Street, today-Saturday, 7.30pm, £10, 0131-473 2000