12 April 2012 (2012-04-12) – 19 June 2014 (2014-06-19)
Playhouse Presents is an anthology series of self-contained TV plays, made by British broadcaster Sky Arts. The series started airing on 12 April 2012, on Sky Arts. Each episode is written by a different writer and stars a different cast.[1] The second series began airing in April 2013.[2] A third season began airing 1 May 2014.[3]
Sky Arts announced that they were ordering a five-part spin-off of the third play, Nixon’s The One. They said the full cast, including Harry Shearer as Nixon and Henry Goodman as Kissinger, were slated to return for the series run, which was to be filmed in September 2012. The series was scheduled to broadcast in 2013.[4]
The four-part adaptation of A Young Doctor's Notebook starring Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe was also broadcast as under the Playhouse Presents banner in December 2012. It became the most successful series in the history of Sky Arts and a second series was commissioned, airing in late 2013.[5]
Sky Arts announced two films, Foxtrot and Nightshift, for the Playhouse Presents strand in late 2013.[6] While it initially appeared that these would be broadcast as one-offs, they ended up being aired as part of the third season.[7] A Christmas special titled "Marked",[8] starring Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Fry, and Kevin McNally, was broadcast in December 2014.
David Tennant stars as Will, a cynical writer whose reminiscences about a dinner party with his group of friends leads him to make some startling realisations about himself, his friends, his life, and his place in it.[9]
Set in 1979, it centres around a 51-year-old man named Neville (Paul O'Grady) and his mother Melba (Sheila Hancock) who perform as a double act and dream of stardom.[10]
Starring Tom Jones as Ron, Alison Steadman as Tina, and Brenda Blethyn as Nina. Aging singer Ron is troubled by the failure of his musical career, and his fading marriage to Tina. When their old friend Nina visits for the first time in 40 years, fond reminiscences soon give way to explosive revelations.[14]
Olivia Williams stars as Dorothy Green, a working-class mum who lands the job of London Mayor after her defiant stand against rioters becomes an internet hit. Co-starring Rhashan Stone, Lucy Punch and Martin Shaw.[15]
Middle class and middle aged, district nurse Natalie (Gina McKee) has become trapped in an existence of meaningless routine until she’s drawn into the lives of two very different women - Elsie (Margaret Jackman), an elderly lady nearing the end of her life and Sammy (Aimee Kelly), the 12-24v in-car power adapter girl next door, who seemingly has everything to live for.[16]
In this black drama starring Douglas Henshall, we follow a lone sniper struggling to maintain sanity in a dystopian, rabies-ridden alternate 1970s Britain ruled over by an ominous Ministry of Information. Ordered to watch and protect stranded survivors, the Snipist must fend off attacks from rabid dogs and protect what remains of his own humanity, but is reality exactly as he sees it? In a dark journey through the recesses of the human mind, he rediscovers the grim reality of mankind's own animalistic instincts.[17]
Based on a novella by Ian R MacLeod, the story follows a fifty-year-old John Lennon, played by Ian Hart, and explores what his life would have been like if he had walked out on The Beatles in 1962.[25]
Based on a short story by Leonard B. Francavilla, it follows Policeman Len (Stephen Graham) as he discovers the loneliness of the city when he meets widow Samantha Bond and elderly woman Vanessa Redgrave during a call to a disturbance on the seventh floor of a block of flats.[26]
Tom Brooke plays Gary, a young transvestite battling with issues of self-doubt, portrayed through the personification of his inner voice, Frank (Tommy McDonnell). An encounter with fellow transvestite Jim (Neil Dudgeon) helps Gary accept himself, as Jim's inner voice Linda (Claire Skinner) displays his own insecurities.[28]
Filmed in a 'mockumentary' style, the story follows five local enthusiasts as a production of Romeo and Juliet starring Suranne Jones and John Nettles arrives in their town. The fans consist of Marco (Alex MacQueen), an amateur critic, Tony (Steve Evets) a man who makes gifts for the stars, Susan (Anna Calder-Marshall) and Meg (Felicity Montagu), two women who John Nettles has a restraining order against and Ralph (Tom Davis), the quiet observer of the group.[29]
A drama about two teenagers stuck on a council estate. Carl (Craig Roberts) is about to go to college leaving Stephen (Joe Cole) alone to look after his dying mother and mentally challenged brother resulting in Stephen's behaviour to become erratic.[31]
Starring Ricky Tomlinson and Stephen Walters, this story is based on Ricky’s true experiences campaigning for justice in an effort to overturn a verdict which sent him to jail for 2 years in the early 1970s. During his time in prison and on hunger strike, Ricky’s life is changed forever by a prison governor who encourages him to read Robert Tressell’s book The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.[32][33]
Rhys Ifans plays Chris, an outsider with a secret ability, who falls in love for the first time with Mona (Sarah Smart). Eventually learning to accept and embrace his unusual 'gift'.[34]
Lonely man Jonah (Tim Key) begins throwing his dog in the air and catching him after witnessing a charismatic man (Matthew Perry) doing the same in a local park. His actions make him popular with the locals but after a photographer becomes interested in the performances the publics opinion becomes much more negative.[35]
While on location in the Czech Republic for a remake of the vampire classic , our tormented lead (Mark Strong) flees the set in full Dracula costume. Teaming up with petty crook Fonso , his revenge against his director and his wife will involve his best acting talents - and twelve thousand rats.[37]
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3
"The Cruise"
Stewart Sugg
Stewart Sugg
15 May 2014 (2014-05-15)
Mobile Hairdresser Jacky is one week from her silver anniversary dream cruise. But is husband Andys hesitation just simple concern - or are darker forces at play? Starring Jane Horrocks & Jason Watkins.[38]
