Jerusalem

If you're looking for some serious drama next month, the New Venture Theatre in Brighton is staging Jez Butterworth's acclaimed play, Jerusalem. This production, which runs from Friday, February 13th, through Saturday, February 21st, 2026, is an amateur staging directed by David Villiers, taking place specifically in The Studio space at the NVT on Bedford Place. The story dives into the life of Johnny 'Rooster' Byron, who is described as a 'local waster and Lord of Misrule.' The action is set on St. George's Day, the morning of the local fair, and Rooster is a man in demand—or perhaps, a man in trouble.

Rooster's day is complicated. Council officials are trying to serve him an eviction notice, his son wants to go to the fair, a vengeful father is looking to settle a score, and a steady stream of friends are showing up looking for his well-known supply of drugs and alcohol. It’s a chaotic and contemporary look at life in 'England's green and pleasant land.' Because of the adult themes and language involved, the theatre has noted that the show is unsuitable for under 16s. Also, a practical heads-up: they confirm there will be smoking onstage during the performance.

If you were hoping to catch this, you'll need to be quick—or maybe just lucky. The performances are scheduled for 7:30 PM on most evenings: Friday 13th, Saturday 14th, and then Tuesday 17th through Saturday 21st. There is also a Sunday matinee on the 15th at 2:30 PM. The critical piece of information right now is that all functions are currently sold out. While the event is ticketed, the New Venture Theatre isn't running a waiting list. Your best bet if you still want to see it is to try checking at the venue itself just before curtain time to see if any last-minute returns have popped up.