For movie producer NICK JONES, Christmastime means one thing: King’s College Choir.
When Jones was growing up in Vancouver, Canada, the choir’s albums always provided the soundtrack to his family’s festive season.
So in 1992 when he moved to Cambridge to study law at St John’s College, he grabbed the opportunity to see the choir perform live.
Now Jones has his own Christmas offering with new movie Nativity!
And he’s hoping it becomes as much a part of people’s festive celebrations as King’s carols were for him.
Martin Freeman and Ashley Jensen star in Nativity!
The film is Jones’s second feature with British director Debbie Isitt.
Like their first collaboration Confetti, Nativity! is improvised by its stars including Martin Freeman (The Office), Ashley Jensen (Ugly Betty), and Marc Wootton (Shirley Ghostman).
Freeman plays Mr Maddens, a failed actor who becomes a primary school teacher.
Hollywood Beckons
Each Christmas, Maddens and fellow actor-turned-teacher Gordon Shakespeare indulge their theatrical rivalry by staging a nativity play at their schools.
And each year the local theatre critic (played by comedian Alan Carr) gives Shakespeare’s school a 5-star review, while all Maddens gets for his efforts is a big fat raspberry.
Marc Wootton as Mr Poppy with the young stars of Nativity!
But this year Maddens has plans for a show-stopping musical.
Plus a Hollywood producer wants to make stars of his young performers. Surely nothing could go wrong?
Click on the audio files below to hear film journalist Jan Gilbert chat to Jones about Christmas in Cambridge, nativity plays, and being locked out on his first night at college.
PART ONE:
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PART TWO:
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