Caithness writer on screen in Bible story
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A FILM scripted by a Caithness-based writer can be seen on television tonight (Friday).
KJB – The Book That Changed The World was written by Murray Watts from Freswick and is being screened on BBC 2 Scotland at 9pm.
Watts also features in the cast and plays the role of Laurence Chadderton, one of the principal translators of the King James Bible.
“It was an honour to be asked to write this film. It was a very exciting project,” he told the John O’Groat Journal this week.
Watts described King James as “an intriguing character” who was responsible for bringing about the translation of a book which has had a huge impact on the world and a profound influence on the English language.
“It is a towering work of literature and probably the most influential work ever written in the English language, but, of course, for those who translated it from the Hebrew and Greek scriptures it was much more important than that,” said Watts.
“It is nothing short of a miracle that such an outstanding work should emerge, and emerge through a committee. And it was James that brought about that miracle,” he stated.
Watts, who has written screenplays as well as scripts for the theatre and television, was “amused” to find himself cast by director Norman Stone as Chadderton, who was the first master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge – the same college attended by Watts, his son, Toby, and uncle, Leslie Lyall.
The 90-minute film tells the story of the biggest-selling book in the world and its influence on cultures and societies over the past 400 years.
The King James Bible was commissioned by King James in 1604 – and published in 1611 – to help forge unity between religious factions.
The film dramatises the events from the 17th century which led to its publication.
It charts the early life of King James VI of Scotland to his accession to the throne of England as King James I, his confrontation with opposing religious leaders, the thwarting of the Gunpowder Plot and the completion of the unifying project to translate the Bible.
KJB – The Book That Changed The World opens as the elderly Queen Elizabeth dies and young James inherits the throne, determined to bring about national unity following years of in-fighting.
It features his young life in Scotland where his religious education was shaped under the severe guidance of tutor George Buchanan, before returning to key events in England such as the new king’s encounter with the battling religious factions and his order for them to work jointly on the new translation.
Actor John Rhys-Davies – Gimli from The Lord of the Rings – is the storyteller and guide through the documentary sections of the film.
The cast includes Andrew Rothney as King James, Edinburgh-based James Bryce (George Buchanan) and Paola Dionisotti (Queen Elizabeth) while King James as a child and young teenager are played by Bruce Sangster and John Gillespie.
Filming took place in several famous landmarks and buildings in England and Scotland, including Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling, and Argyle’s Lodge near Stirling Castle.
KJB – The Book That Changed The World is described as “a compelling drama documentary which brings the story of the momentous project vividly to life”.
