New Cycle Of Mystery Plays, A

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

The Parable Of The Wise And Foolish Builders

20121217

New Testament stories revisited and set in present day pre-Christmas London, introduced by Rev Dr Giles Fraser. Dawn King sets the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders in a building firm, working on a private conversion, where the boss starts to cut corners.

Cast

Tony ... Ben Crowe

Aleksy ... Patrick Brennan

Joe ... Will Howard

Eric ... Paul Stonehouse

Nina ... Liza Sadovy

Directed by Jessica Dromgoole

In the run up to Christmas, the first of five newly commissioned short plays inspired by the medieval Mystery Plays. Each one is a reworking of a New Testament Story, reset in the contemporary world by up and coming writers - and capturing the spirit of these early forms of theatre. Rev. Dr. Giles Fraser introduces the plays to give them a biblical context.

The New Cycle of Mystery Plays, every evening in The Essay, and then compiled on Sunday in the Drama on 3, is the second Cycle commissioned by Radio 3. Last year's Cycle, with stories all drawn from the Old Testament, featured Noah's Flood (set in a B&Q), the Creation (rehearsed in the mind of a recovering coma victim), Samson and Delilah (set in a hair salon), the Flight from Egypt (where old people break out of an oppressive home in Hackney) and David and Goliath (for the Israelites and the Philistines, read two postcode gangs in North West London).

Dawn King is an award winning writer who works in theatre, radio and film. Her play Foxfinder won the Papatango new writing competition and then Best Playwright in the Offies.

Dawn King's setting of the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders in a building firm.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

The Good Samaritan

20121218

New Testament stories revisited and set in present day pre-Christmas London, introduced by Reverend Dr Giles Fraser. Katie Hims sets the story of the Good Samaritan on the Central Line.

Cast

Niall ..... Ben Crowe

Janine ..... Sarah Gordy

Ali ..... Lizzy Watts

Kofi ..... O-T Fagbenle

Driver ..... Paul Stonehouse

Louise ..... Stephanie Racine

Directed by Jessica Dromgoole

In the run up to Christmas, the second of five newly commissioned short plays inspired by the medieval Mystery Plays: contemporary reworkings of New Testament stories. Here, the story of prejudice confounded by kindness. Rev. Dr. Giles Fraser introduces the plays to give them a biblical context.

Katie Hims writes for radio, stage and television. Earthquake Girl won the Richard Imeson Award in 1998, and Lost Property a series of three afternoon plays for Radio 4 won Best Drama at the Audio Drama Awards 2012.

Sarah Gordy is a young actress who has Down's syndrome. She is best known for her portrayal of Lady Pamela Holland in the 2010 BBC TV series of Upstairs Downstairs.

Katie Hims's setting of the story of the Good Samaritan on the London Underground.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

The Parable Of The Good Servant

20121219

New Testament stories revisited and set in present day pre-Christmas London, introduced by Rev Dr Giles Fraser. Frazer Flintham sets the Parable of the Good Servant in a beauty store, where the new manager, Wendy, begins to doubt that her demanding boss will ever show up.

Cast

Wendy ..... Rosie Cavaliero

Carly ..... Lizzy Watts

Rod ..... Will Howard

Loren ..... Christine Absalom

Alan ..... Adam Nagaitis

Guest ..... Patrick Brennan

Directed by Jessica Dromgoole

In the run up to Christmas, the third of five newly commissioned short plays inspired by the medieval Mystery Plays: contemporary retellings of timeless stories. Rev. Dr. Giles Fraser introduces the plays to give them a biblical context.

Frazer Flintham is a member of the Forward Theatre Project, and has had work on in Edinburgh, the Bush, Soho Theatre, and the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival. His next Radio 3 play, We are Mermaid, will be broadcasting in early 2013.

Rosie Cavaliero won Best Actress at the Audio Drama Awards 2012, for her portrayal of Ruthie in Lost Property.

Frazer Flintham's version of the parable of the Good Servant, set in a beauty store.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Lazarus

20121220

New Testament stories revisited and set in present day pre-Christmas London, introduced by Rev Dr Giles Fraser. Winsome Pinnock sets the story of Lazarus in a holistic healing centre, where terminally ill Larry is drawn to the work of an alternative healer.

Cast

Christine ..... Noma Dumezweni

Larry ..... Robert Blythe

Martha ..... Sarah Thom

Mary ..... Stephanie Racine

Anderson ..... Patrick Brennan

Piano played by Adam Nagaitis

Directed by Jessica Dromgoole

In the run up to Christmas, one of five newly commissioned short plays inspired by the medieval Mystery Plays. Each one is a reworking of a New Testament Story, reset in the contemporary world. Rev. Dr. Giles Fraser introduces the plays to give them a biblical context.

Winsome Pinnock is a London playwright whose work featured frequently at the Royal Court in the late 80s and early 90s. Her 1991 play, Talking in Tongues, won the George Devine Award.

Winsome Pinnock's setting of the story of Lazarus in a holistic healing centre.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

The Parable Of The Sower

20121221

New Testament stories revisited and set in present day pre-Christmas London, introduced by Rev Dr Giles Fraser. Tom Wells sets the Parable of the Sower in a Secondary School lunchtime science club, where Ellie D is inspired to test the parable using cress.

Cast

Ellie ... Katie Angelou

Miss ... Eleanor Crooks

Marcus ... Shaun Aylward

Daniel ... Jack Boulter

Alice ... Ellie Hopkins

Robot ... Paul Stonehouse

Directed by Jessica Dromgoole

In the run up to Christmas, the last of five newly commissioned short plays inspired by the medieval Mystery Plays, and celebrating the diversity of writing talent on Radio 3. Rev. Dr. Giles Fraser introduces the plays to give them a biblical context.

Tom Wells is a young playwright from Hull, whose play The Kitchen Sink, at the Bush Theatre late last year, won the George Devine Award, the Critics' Circle Most Promising Playwright Award, and has just been shortlisted for the Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

Tom Wells's setting of the Parable of the Sower in a school science club.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	The Parable Of The Wise And Foolish Builders	20121217	New Testament stories revisited and set in present day pre-Christmas London, introduced by Rev Dr Giles Fraser. Dawn King sets the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders in a building firm, working on a private conversion, where the boss starts to cut corners. Cast Tony ... Ben Crowe Aleksy ... Patrick Brennan Joe ... Will Howard Eric ... Paul Stonehouse Nina ... Liza Sadovy Directed by Jessica Dromgoole In the run up to Christmas, the first of five newly commissioned short plays inspired by the medieval Mystery Plays. Each one is a reworking of a New Testament Story, reset in the contemporary world by up and coming writers - and capturing the spirit of these early forms of theatre. Rev. Dr. Giles Fraser introduces the plays to give them a biblical context. The New Cycle of Mystery Plays, every evening in The Essay, and then compiled on Sunday in the Drama on 3, is the second Cycle commissioned by Radio 3. Last year's Cycle, with stories all drawn from the Old Testament, featured Noah's Flood (set in a B&Q), the Creation (rehearsed in the mind of a recovering coma victim), Samson and Delilah (set in a hair salon), the Flight from Egypt (where old people break out of an oppressive home in Hackney) and David and Goliath (for the Israelites and the Philistines, read two postcode gangs in North West London). Dawn King is an award winning writer who works in theatre, radio and film. Her play Foxfinder won the Papatango new writing competition and then Best Playwright in the Offies. Dawn King's setting of the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders in a building firm. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
02	The Good Samaritan	20121218	New Testament stories revisited and set in present day pre-Christmas London, introduced by Reverend Dr Giles Fraser. Katie Hims sets the story of the Good Samaritan on the Central Line. Cast Niall ..... Ben Crowe Janine ..... Sarah Gordy Ali ..... Lizzy Watts Kofi ..... O-T Fagbenle Driver ..... Paul Stonehouse Louise ..... Stephanie Racine Directed by Jessica Dromgoole In the run up to Christmas, the second of five newly commissioned short plays inspired by the medieval Mystery Plays: contemporary reworkings of New Testament stories. Here, the story of prejudice confounded by kindness. Rev. Dr. Giles Fraser introduces the plays to give them a biblical context. Katie Hims writes for radio, stage and television. Earthquake Girl won the Richard Imeson Award in 1998, and Lost Property a series of three afternoon plays for Radio 4 won Best Drama at the Audio Drama Awards 2012. Sarah Gordy is a young actress who has Down's syndrome. She is best known for her portrayal of Lady Pamela Holland in the 2010 BBC TV series of Upstairs Downstairs. Katie Hims's setting of the story of the Good Samaritan on the London Underground. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
03	The Parable Of The Good Servant	20121219	New Testament stories revisited and set in present day pre-Christmas London, introduced by Rev Dr Giles Fraser. Frazer Flintham sets the Parable of the Good Servant in a beauty store, where the new manager, Wendy, begins to doubt that her demanding boss will ever show up. Cast Wendy ..... Rosie Cavaliero Carly ..... Lizzy Watts Rod ..... Will Howard Loren ..... Christine Absalom Alan ..... Adam Nagaitis Guest ..... Patrick Brennan Directed by Jessica Dromgoole In the run up to Christmas, the third of five newly commissioned short plays inspired by the medieval Mystery Plays: contemporary retellings of timeless stories. Rev. Dr. Giles Fraser introduces the plays to give them a biblical context. Frazer Flintham is a member of the Forward Theatre Project, and has had work on in Edinburgh, the Bush, Soho Theatre, and the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival. His next Radio 3 play, We are Mermaid, will be broadcasting in early 2013. Rosie Cavaliero won Best Actress at the Audio Drama Awards 2012, for her portrayal of Ruthie in Lost Property. Frazer Flintham's version of the parable of the Good Servant, set in a beauty store. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
04	Lazarus	20121220	New Testament stories revisited and set in present day pre-Christmas London, introduced by Rev Dr Giles Fraser. Winsome Pinnock sets the story of Lazarus in a holistic healing centre, where terminally ill Larry is drawn to the work of an alternative healer. Cast Christine ..... Noma Dumezweni Larry ..... Robert Blythe Martha ..... Sarah Thom Mary ..... Stephanie Racine Anderson ..... Patrick Brennan Piano played by Adam Nagaitis Directed by Jessica Dromgoole In the run up to Christmas, one of five newly commissioned short plays inspired by the medieval Mystery Plays. Each one is a reworking of a New Testament Story, reset in the contemporary world. Rev. Dr. Giles Fraser introduces the plays to give them a biblical context. Winsome Pinnock is a London playwright whose work featured frequently at the Royal Court in the late 80s and early 90s. Her 1991 play, Talking in Tongues, won the George Devine Award. Winsome Pinnock's setting of the story of Lazarus in a holistic healing centre. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
05	The Parable Of The Sower	20121221	New Testament stories revisited and set in present day pre-Christmas London, introduced by Rev Dr Giles Fraser. Tom Wells sets the Parable of the Sower in a Secondary School lunchtime science club, where Ellie D is inspired to test the parable using cress. Cast Ellie ... Katie Angelou Miss ... Eleanor Crooks Marcus ... Shaun Aylward Daniel ... Jack Boulter Alice ... Ellie Hopkins Robot ... Paul Stonehouse Directed by Jessica Dromgoole In the run up to Christmas, the last of five newly commissioned short plays inspired by the medieval Mystery Plays, and celebrating the diversity of writing talent on Radio 3. Rev. Dr. Giles Fraser introduces the plays to give them a biblical context. Tom Wells is a young playwright from Hull, whose play The Kitchen Sink, at the Bush Theatre late last year, won the George Devine Award, the Critics' Circle Most Promising Playwright Award, and has just been shortlisted for the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Tom Wells's setting of the Parable of the Sower in a school science club. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.