Jerusalem cast of characters
Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth is a bold, darkly comic play set in a rural English wood on St George’s Day. It follows Johnny “Rooster” Byron, a rebellious, mythic figure resisting eviction from his makeshift home. As he hosts a motley crew of misfits and disaffected youth, Rooster’s world becomes a battleground between authority and anarchy, tradition and freedom. Rich with lyrical language, folklore, and social commentary, the play explores national identity, the loss of community, and the tensions between escapism and reality. Jerusalem is a provocative and poignant portrait of a vanishing England, both celebratory and critical in tone.
Johnny "Rooster" Byron
Charismatic, defiant, and eccentric; a former daredevil and local outcast who lives in the woods, evading authority and offering a wild haven for the town’s disaffected youth.
Ginger
A loyal but deluded DJ with failed ambitions. Clings to youthful dreams, serving as Rooster’s sidekick despite frequent ridicule and lack of real influence.
Lee
Young, restless, and cynical. Dreaming of escape, he represents the disillusionment of youth caught between small-town inertia and the desire for something greater.
Davey
Lad culture embodied; proud of his roots, but uninterested in leaving. Witty and sarcastic, he offers comic relief but harbours deeper insecurities.
Pea
Teenage girl who hangs out at Rooster’s. Witty, sharp, and aware of her social power. Represents youthful bravado and the pull of rebellion.
Tanya
Pea's sidekick. Naïve and enthusiastic, eager to belong. Less confident, she mirrors the vulnerability behind teenage bravado.
Fawcett
Stern council worker, efficient with a clipboard and a court order.
Professor
Eccentric, elderly man who speaks in riddles and prophecies. A local oddity whose poetic wisdom underscores the play’s mythical undercurrent and themes of English identity.
Wesley
A weary pub landlord roped into Rooster’s chaos. Mild-mannered and frustrated, he dreams of rebellion but rarely acts.
Dawn
Rooster’s estranged ex-partner. Strong-willed and pragmatic, she represents a link to his past and the reality he refuses to accept.
Marky
Rooster and Dawn’s young son. Innocent and impressionable, symbolises Rooster’s failure to maintain a stable family life.
Parsons
Back-up for Fawcett. Enforcing the rules of the local council and representing modernity and order against Johnny's counter-cultural lifestyle.
Phaedra
A teenage girl who disappears from home. Ethereal and symbolic, her presence highlights themes of innocence, myth, and the darker sides of Rooster’s world.
Troy Whitworth
Phaedra’s violent stepfather. Menacing and volatile, a source of fear and unresolved danger in the play’s climax. Represents brutal authority and familial dysfunction.
