Pride by Al Smith

Mrs Eve is the head of an exclusive public school instilling pride and ambition in their pupils, but her lack of respect for one of her former charges is the basis of a shaming encounter.

Inspired by medieval morality plays, Al Smith takes a look at the most venous of sins, Pride.

In medieval times allegorical plays such as 'Mankind' and 'Everyman' were used to warn audiences that how they lived in the present would affect their afterlife - whether they would end up in Hell, Purgatory or Heaven.

But in a secular age how do we deal with the nature of sins and virtues? Our attitude to good and evil is certainly less black and white. Is it bad to be proud, don't we deserve respect? Can't anger be used to promote change for the better and isn't envy what drives our materialistic lifestyle?

These five tales explore our attitudes to these questions through the character of 'Eve', a 21st-century Everywoman, played by Rebecca Front.

Mrs Eve ...... Rebecca Front
Tom ...... Tom Hughes

Director: Sally Avens

First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in February 2016.