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‘Jerusalem’ at the Barge Inn, Honey Street, by the Apple Bee Theatre Co
11 September @ 8:00 pm
Apple Bee Theatre Company is bringing the highly acclaimed play ‘Jerusalem’ back to its Wiltshire roots with performances at The Barge Inn, Honeystreet near Pewsey on Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 September 2025.
Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth is a raucous, provocative play about a modern hero, Johnny “Rooster” Bryon. Premiered in 2009, the Tony nominated play has been described as “the greatest British play of the [21st] century” (by The Telegraph’s Dominic Cavendish, 2019) and among “The 40 best plays of all time” (article in the The Independent, 2019).
Johnny was reportedly based on a retired builder called Micky Lay, who lived in a caravan in Pewsey, and the local community festival in the play was based on Pewsey’s carnival fortnight.
In Jerusalem (which alludes to Blake’s poem), Johnny both charms and infuriates everyone he meets: telling tales, getting drunk, taking drugs and dodging the authorities.
Most members of the Apple Bee Theatre Company are from Newbury, Hungerford, Marlborough and surrounding areas. The Company’s previous productions include Don Juan In Soho, Quills and Cabaret, all performed in Newbury.
Jerusalem will be performed outside, with tiered seating at the historic venue of The Barge Inn. “We’re bringing a local story back to the area that inspired it,” says Daren Appleby, founder of Apple Bee Theatre Company, who also stars as Johnny in the new production.
The show is an amateur production by arrangement with writer Jez Butterworth and Nick Hern Books.
