Nativity UnCUT is A BROADCAST-READY RADIO PLAY By Robert Cole
Be among the first to hear it on 29 Aug 2023 at 7.30pm at the Brockley Brewery in HArcourt Road, London SE4. Tickets £5 available HERE.
Separately, Nativity Uncut (The Gospel According to Jude) is an R&D filmscript
CONTACT 07974 357 237 or [email protected] or @robertspcole
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NATIVITY UNCUT IS A DARK COMEDY . . .
. . . a loosely connected sequence of stories, a modern urban myth. It mashes pagan and Christian traditions while referencing legends from Antquity. As with the original medieval Mystery Plays, to which the script owes debts, Nativity Uncut is written with communities in mind.
- It is a folk story for grown-ups set in contemporary south-east London
- It’s about knife crime, addiction, neuro-wellbeing, and urban wildlife habitats
- Is it crazy? Yes. It also makes perfect sense
SYNOPSIS
The filmsript (The Gospel According to Jude) shadows Jude Scarryharte on the last day of his life, walking from Blackheath, via Greenwich, Deptford, and Brockley, to One Tree Hill in Honor Oak.
In his final hours, Jude imagines, or re-imagines, or remembers a sequence of events. Some of the flashbacks are real, others are fantasies.
The subplot pivots around the birth, life, and death of a fella called Christian Bunkukechwu. Christian is a social worker who gets killed because he helps people. Jude is an untreated anxious depressive who kills himself because he is ill.
The thoughts and feelings of Jude and Christian are explored in scenes with characters including Gabrielle and Old Nick, Adam and Yve, Kane and Mabel, and a talkative Irish landlady called Connie. Later, we see Petr, Martha, Ronni. There are five kings in this story, three of whom are called Elvis, Carole, and Nat. The shepherds (Gabs, Mikey and Raff) are emoji-toting teenagers.
PRODUCTION VALUES
The format of the traditional Christmas children’s nativity play gives the filmscript its basic structure. To help things along, there are two will-o-wisp narrators, Jack and Diane.
Nativity Uncut is an irreverently ambitious filmscript with some illustrative footage in the can. It is unusual. The strength of the storytelling will appeal to an open-minded and thoughtful audience. It also exists. It has professional actors, an original soundtrack, artwork, and two hours of rough-cut footage. We are looking for completion finance, additional technical and artistic expertise, and enthusiasm.
SATURDAY’S CHILD
Ultimately, Nativity Uncut is a love story with forgiveness as it’s star. The sequel – ‘Saturday’s Child’ – has the working subtitle: ‘The Gospel According to Martha.’