The BBC has announced the airing of “The AlterNativity,” a documentary regarding director Daniel Boyle (the man responsible for the “Satanic” opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics) collaborating with “graffiti artist” Banksy in staging a Nativity Play in Bethlehem on grounds of the latter’s Walled Off [a play on Waldorf, geddit?] Hotel. Obviously raising a lot of appropriately provocative questions regarding the reality of the lack of “peace on earth” and “goodwill towards men” at the site of the Christmas “miracle” per se [no comment on the factual basis as I don’t believe there’s enough hard or even circumstantial evidence to prove its truth or falsity — to date]. The announcement reads:
“In March this year, graffiti artist Banksy opened The Walled Off Hotel in the little town of Bethlehem – a place under Israeli occupation, overlooked by a vast security wall and with checkpoints controlling the roads in and out.
“Now, in a bid to bring some festive cheer to what Banksy calls ‘the least Christmassy place on earth’, the artist has decided to stage an Alternativity in the carpark of his hotel around the corner from Manger Square, Bethlehem – believed to be the birthplace of Christ himself. But as a famously anonymous graffiti artist who has never put on a play, he is going to need some help – and who better than celebrated Oscar-winning film director and maestro behind the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, Danny Boyle?
“Accepting this unorthodox request from a man he has never met, Danny admits the closest he has ever been to the Middle East is a fortnight in Majorca. Thrown in at the deep end, he travels to the occupied Palestinian territories to create a spectacular show from scratch.
“Shot over six weeks, this enthralling documentary follows the action as Danny overcomes the many restrictions to assemble a cast and crew, meeting local children, theatrical performers and a great many donkeys along the way.
“How will Danny tell the story of the most famous journey ever made – in a land where movement is severely restricted? Will he find a donkey? And, as if the challenge wasn’t big enough already, can he fulfil Banksy’s request to make it snow?”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2017/alternativity.
Thanks to Soror Amy for the tip!
