麻豆约拍

By Katie Redford

Joe and Fran, two primary school teachers, watch the nativity play from the wings. The kiss they shared at the Christmas party the night before is all they can think about. But between the nativity and the ever over-enthusiastic Miss Pear, any more moments alone will be gold dust.

Joe ..... Nikesh Patel
Fran ..... Fiona Button
Miss Pear ..... Joanna Monro

Directed by Tracey Neale

It鈥檚 December 22nd and the day of the school Nativity. Joe Needson is preparing his pupils for their 鈥淐hristmas Extravaganza鈥� with some strong words of encouragement. He tucks himself away in the wings, ready for the show to begin. However, sitting in the wings is his fellow teacher, Fran Rayner. She desperately needs a minute to escape and by being in the company of Mr Needson she finds 44 of them.

The night before was the staff Christmas party and due to cheap wine and cocktails and not enough Pringles to line their stomachs they shared a stolen kiss which neither of them can get out of their heads. When we meet them, it鈥檚 the first time they鈥檝e spoken to one another since the night before. It's clear they have chemistry and as their conversation continues, we realise that both have troubles they are trying to cope with. Just when we think they might address the elephant in the room - that stolen kiss - Miss Pear, overly enthusiastic at the best of times, keeps interrupting at various moments throughout their heart to heart. The ringing bells on her Christmas wings giving advance warning.

During the nativity, we hear the gentle, heart-warming sounds of the children鈥檚 nativity as a backdrop for various revelations from both a woman who feels trapped and a man whose loneliness is palpable. But the expectation of Christmas is that we should all be happy. We cover up the dark days and nights with tinsel and fairy lights. But Christmas is also a magical time and will Joe and Fran address what happened at the staff party, or will Miss Pear put a stop to that?

The Writer:
Katie is a writer and actor from Nottingham. She is a BAFTA Rocliffe TV Comedy winner and was also part of the 麻豆约拍 Comedy Writersroom. Her short film 鈥楪hosted鈥� starring Alison Steadman, which she wrote and produced, received the BFI Network award in association with Film Hub Midlands. She has various scripts in commissioned development for TV and is currently listed on the 麻豆约拍 New Talent Hot List. Yellow Lips, nominated for the Richard Imison Award at this year's Audio Drama Awards, was her debut drama for Radio 4.

Cast:
Nikesh Patel, The Devil's Hour (Amazon) and Starstruck (麻豆约拍/HBO) and has just completed filming on The Critic.
Fiona Button, Trying (Apple TV/麻豆约拍 Studios) and Out of her Mind (麻豆约拍2) and The Split (麻豆约拍1)
Joanna Monro, Rosie in Mamma Mia (West End & International Tour) and 麻豆约拍 Front (麻豆约拍 Radio 4)

Production Team:
Tracey Neale (Producer & Director) Ben Holland (Production Co-Ordinator) and Cal Knightley, Peter Ringrose and Jenni Burnett (Technical Team)

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