The Verge

The Verge is a 35-minute film written and directed by John Roberts. It is set in a North London funeral parlour and consists of an extended soliloquy/lament by a middle-aged black woman, Magdalene, for her adopted white brother, Thomas, who lies on a bier in the space. The form and structure are Greek-classical (Aeschylus); the lighting and décor minimalist; the language, poetically inflected, North London working class.

  • John Roberts
    Director
  • John Roberts
    Writer
  • Nisha Banga
    Producer
  • Tonia Daley - Campbell
    Key Cast
    "Magdalene "
  • Lee Morgan
    Key Cast
    "Thomas"
  • Ameena Edwards
    Key Cast
    "Pauline"
  • Andrew McNiven
    Key Cast
    "Funeral Director "
  • Ryan Knight
    Key Cast
    "Police Officer 1"
  • Tim Sillery
    Key Cast
    "Police Officer 2"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    33 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 20, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    41,700 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - John Roberts

Writer and filmmaker

Recent books include ;

The Unreasoning of Reason (Bloomsbury, 2020)
Capitalism and the Limits of Desire (Bloomsbury,2022)
Art and Emancipation (Brill, 2024)

Lives in London.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I’ve been involved in feature and short-film script writing and script-development from 2016. The Verge is my first film. The film extends my interest in the anti-naturalistic possibilities of theatre-as-film. In this it brings into critical alignment the classical tradition of the mourning play (the lament), with all its associations of public disclosure, and the emotional intimacy of the filmic chamber piece. History and the everyday collide. As such, the increasing intensity of the lead character’s grief (Magdalene) at the death of her white adopted brother, brings into focus the experience and struggle of black women in the UK across the generations.