A live television nativity play recounting the traditional Christmas story.
This children’s play presents the biblical account of the birth of Jesus. The narrative follows Joseph (Tristan Rawson) and a heavily pregnant Mary (Petra Davies) on their journey to Bethlehem. Finding no room at the inn, they take shelter in a stable where the child is born. The event is witnessed by local shepherds, including an old shepherd (Owen Berry), David (Trader Faulkner), and Seth (Richard Grant), who are guided to the manger by an angel. The play culminates with the arrival of the three wise men: Kaspar (Richard Carey), Melchior (Frank Henderson), and Balthazar (Uriel Porter).
Broadcast live on Christmas Eve, this nativity play was a cornerstone of the BBC’s festive schedule in 1955. The production was the work of Dorothea Brooking, a central figure in the development of early BBC Children’s Television, who served as both writer and producer. Brooking’s treatment integrated the dramatic narrative with a selection of traditional carols, performed by a small choir led by Tom McCall.
Broadcast: BBC, 1 Episode, 24 December 1955
Written by: Dorothea Brooking
Music by: Tom McCall
Producer: Dorothea Brooking
Designer: Norman James
Main Cast: Tristan Rawson (Joseph), Petra Davies (Mary), Michael Brooke (Silas), Owen Berry (Old Shepherd), Trader Faulkner (David), Richard Grant (Seth), Meadows White (Matthew), Elsie Arnold (Miriam), Edgar K. Bruce (Enoch), Richard Carey (Kaspar), Frank Henderson (Melchior), Uriel Porter (Balthazar), John Roden (Joel)
