Jerusalem to be revived at the Watermill

Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem will return to the Watermill Theatre next spring.

Set in rural England, Jerusalem follows Johnny “Rooster” Byron, a local outsider whose presence in a small Wiltshire community brings him into conflict with the authorities and those seeking to move him from his home. The play has a particular connection to the Watermill, with its setting less than ten miles from the theatre.

The new staging, presented in association with Fiery Angel, will be co-directed by Paul Hart and Georgie Staight, and is based on Lisa Blair’s 2018 production at the theatre. It will run from 19 March to 24 April 2027 as part of the Newbury venue’s 60th anniversary season.

The production will form part of the Watermill’s 2027 anniversary programme, which also includes the return of Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s The Wipers Times, an outdoor staging of Alan Ayckbourn’s Way Upstream, a new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, the world premiere of a stage adaptation of Robert Harris’ Enigma and a new adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Beauty and the Beast. We’ve covered all of it in detail here.

The Watermill Theatre was conceived by David Gollins in 1965, with its first professional production following in 1967. The theatre will celebrate its 60th anniversary throughout 2027 with productions, community projects and special events.

Further casting and creative team details for Jerusalem will be announced separately.