Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Outside the March, The Company Theatre and Starvox Entertainment are thrilled to announce that Kim Coates, the iconic star of the FX series “Sons of Anarchy”, and TV’s upcoming “Godless” and “Bad Blood”, will headline the cast of their February 2018 production of the long-awaited Canadian premiere of Jez Butterworth’s critically-acclaimed Jerusalem.
Taking on the now legendary role of Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron, will be Coates—returning to the stage after 25 years spent focused on his immensely successful film and television career. Prior to his film work, Coates notably played Macbeth at Stratford at the age of 27 and starred as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway.
A pied piper tale for the Tarantino generation, Jerusalem is Jez Butterworth’s masterwork. The play tells the story of an aging daredevil—purveyor of drugs, alcohol, mythic tales and sanctuary to the troubled teens of Wiltshire County. In this immersive production, audiences will be invited to come squat with Rooster deep in the heart of the forest, as he summons the deep magic of Byron Wood, and does battle against the community council bent on eradicating him, bulldozing the land, and putting up condos.
Of his return to the stage after such a long absence, Coates said, “When Sons of Anarchy ended I was looking for something…a play, a part, something that I couldn’t say no to. Mitchell Cushman and Philip Riccio, both cutting edge voices in Canadian theatre today, brought that ‘something’ to me. Jerusalem is a powerhouse play and the part of Johnny Byron scares the hell out of me, which is exactly where my craft loves to live. 2018 can’t get here fast enough.”
“Kim came to mind immediately when reading the play. His charisma, unpredictability and intensity are perfect for the larger than life character of Rooster. I cannot wait to see him in this role,” said The Company Theatre Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director Philip Riccio. “Company Theatre has always strived to be a playground for Canada’s best actors to come and challenge themselves. We’re thrilled to continue that tradition by having Kim Coates, one of Canada’s most exciting and acclaimed actors, come work with us on this incredible play.”
Outside the March’s award-winning Founding Artistic Director Mitchell Cushman will direct the production. Cushman is recognized as one of Canada’s most important young directors, with a specific focus on immersive theatre; he has won two Dora Awards for Best Production, the Siminovitch Protégé Award, the Ken McDougall Award, and Toronto Theatre Critics Awards for Best Production and Best Director.
Of the play, Cushman commented, “With Jerusalem, Butterworth has created one of the true masterpieces of our time - a play that dares to reclaim magic and the mythic, in a world of strip malls, chain restaurants and cable TV. In Toronto's time of eternal re-development, Johnny Byron is a monument to all that cannot - will not - be bulldozed. He stands tall with his battle scars and his pint glass, ready to do battle with giants or bureaucrats, or anyone who would disturb his land."
Jerusalem was first produced in 2009 in London where it debuted at the Royal Court Theatre to universal acclaim; in early 2010 the production was transferred to the larger Apollo Theatre and in 2011 the production, with many of the original cast, debuted on Broadway to equally rousing acclaim. Ben Brantley said in his review of the Broadway production in the New York Times, “…this work takes you places — distant, out-of-time places — that well-made plays seldom do. And it thinks big — transcendently big — in ways contemporary drama seldom dares.”
Jerusalem will be on stage in Toronto for a limited engagement, beginning February 13th 2018. (Opening night: February 15th). Tickets now available at JerusalemTO.ca.
Twitter: @OutsideTheMarch, @CompanyTheatre
Facebook: @OutsideTheMarch, @TheCompanyTheatre
Hashtag: #JerusalemTO
Photo: Kim Coates.
2017-06-21
Toronto: Kim Coates returns to the stage in the Canadian premiere of "Jerusalem" February 13, 2018