Playhouse Presents
Playhouse Presents is a series of self-contained TV plays, made by British broadcaster Sky Arts. The series started airing on 12 April 2012, on Sky Arts 1. Each episode is written by a different writer with a different cast.
Seasons
1. Minor Character
Air Date: 2012-04-12
An artist named Will observes life in minute detail, providing a witty and acerbic critique of his life. When a tragedy occurs, Will is forced to reconsider the trust he has in the urban-suburban, middle-class landscape of his middle-aged friends.
2. Nellie and Melba
Air Date: 2012-04-19
In 1979, middle-aged Neville and his mother Melba perform as a double act and dream of stardom
3. Nixon's the One
Air Date: 2012-04-26
A verbatim account of Richard Nixon’s time in the Oval office, based on more than 198 hours of recordings made between February 1971 and 1973.
4. King of the Teds
Air Date: 2012-05-03
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.
5. City Hall
Air Date: 2012-05-10
Working-class mum Dorothy Green lands the position of London's first female mayor after her defiant stand against rioters goes viral.
6. Care
Air Date: 2012-05-17
Middle class and middle aged, district nurse Natalie has become trapped in a meaningless, routine existence until she’s drawn into the lives of two very different women: Elsie, an elderly lady nearing the end of her life, and Sammy, the 12-24v in-car power adapter girl next door who seemingly has everything to live for.[
7. The Snipist
Air Date: 2012-05-24
In a post-apocalyptic 1970s Britain ruled by an ominous Ministry of Information, a lone sniper struggles to maintain his sanity. 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?
8. Walking the Dogs
Air Date: 2012-05-31
Based on the 1982 Michael Fagan incident, an intruder breaks into the Queen’s bedroom at dawn. They discuss romance, family and personal freedom before the police arrive to take him away.
9. The Man
Air Date: 2012-06-07
Hidden in an exclusive hotel, a cabal of powerful individuals debate international politics, economics and war. A chilling look at how an unelected few control the fate of the masses.
10. The Other Woman
Air Date: 2012-06-14
Life imitates art as a successful television writer and his actress wife’s failing marriage is mirrored in the programme he writes and she stars in. But can they work out their problems on screen or is their relationship doomed to fail?
11. Psychobitches
Air Date: 2012-06-21
A woman known only as 'The Therapist' holds sessions with famous historical and spiritual women, exploring their psychological issues via anachronistic humour, with such individuals like Eva Braun, Édith Piaf, Jane Austen, Frida Kahlo, Joan of Arc, Mother Theresa and Beatrix Potter appearing in contemporary settings. Blending historical figures with modern comedy, it features a cast of well-known British talent in a variety of roles as the iconic women.
1. Hey Diddly Dee
Air Date: 2013-04-18
Johnny is the eager-to-please ASM and understudy to arrogant actor Roger Kite, who is due to play Andy Warhol in an upcoming West End production. Roger treats Johnny abominably, forcing him to make his coffee, sort his fan mail and - particularly - keep him away from the theatre's lucky mascot, a black cat called Diddly. As opening night approaches, Kite's attitude worsens, causing the young man to hear voices urging him to prevent Kite from starring.
2. Snodgrass
Air Date: 2013-04-25
In 1991, 51-year-old John Lennon, living on the dole in Birmingham and following the moderate success of The Beatles, recalls how he left the band in 1962 after they were persuaded to release 'How Do You Do It?' as a single, rather than 'Love Me Do'. His intolerance for Jobsworths – or 'Snodgrasses', as he calls them – puts him out of contention for a job.
3. The Call Out
Air Date: 2013-05-02
Policemen Len and Vic are called to Union Square flats after a middle-aged woman reports seeing an intruder. However, on arrival, Len discovers that the woman is not really concerned with securing her property but takes him into a room with erotic photos and wants to talk about sex.
4. Pavement Psychologist
Air Date: 2013-05-09
Singleton Jenny works at a small accountancy firm and has an on-off relationship with her boss, Doug. As she walks to work, she becomes aware of Chris, a homeless man who sits huddled on the pavement and is something of a philosopher, commenting on the different shoes she wears and her weight loss. She befriends him and learns that he lost his family in a house fire three years earlier and, as his philosophy becomes more profound, they allow her to take stock of her own situation.
5. Mr Understood
Air Date: 2013-05-16
Thirtysomething transvestite Gary at last plucks up the courage to attend a South End disco for cross-dressers, though the whole occasion is very hesitant as he argues with his alter ego the pros and cons of coming out.
6. Stage Door Johnnies
Air Date: 2013-05-23
As John Nettles and Suranne Jones arrive at a Guildford theatre for a touring production of 'Romeo and Juliet', a mockumentary concentrates on the stage door 'Johnnies', the fans who congregate at the back of the theatre waiting for the stars to come out. Shambling Tony makes unusual presents for the players whilst acerbic video shop manager Marco offers them 'constructive' criticism on past performances, and Meg and Susan may look sweet but are actually are subject to a restraining order banning them from coming within fifty feet of Nettles. Ralph might be the quiet one but isn't averse to joining in on a little bodily harm as the fans make their allegiance known.
7. Psychobitches: Episode 1
Air Date: 2013-05-30
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford battle over diva status; sisters Emily, Charlotte and Anne Brontë can't stop quarrelling; and Sylvia Plath needs to be a little more cheerful!
8. Cargese
Air Date: 2013-06-30
Childhood friends Stephen and Carl spend a winter kicking around the estate where they live, playing on the computer - for which 'Cargese' is the password and exploring old warehouses. Stephen's father walked out years ago and now his mother is dying, he feels that he will be deserted yet again. Other than his meek brother Alex and girlfriend, his only comfort in life is Carl. But when Carl announces that he will be leaving the estate for further education, it is the last straw for the increasingly unhinged Stephen, who is prepared to implicate his friend in a murder to keep control over him.
9. Psychobitches: Episode Two
Air Date: 2013-06-06
Dian Fossey vents why she's so hostile; Diana Dors is confronted by Marilyn Monroe; and The Therapist examines a brooding Virginia Woolf and a love-struck Cleopatra.
10. Ragged
Air Date: 2013-06-06
In 1973, former National Front member Ricky Tomlinson is convicted of conspiracy to intimidate when as half of the so-called Shrewsbury Two, he refuses to give evidence against other flying pickets upholding a building site strike. Sentenced to two years, Ricky sees himself as a political prisoner, declining to eat or wear prison clothes until at his last prison, the governor introduces him to a book that changes his outlook on life.
11. Psychobitches: Episode Three
Air Date: 2013-06-13
Liz Taylor devours a chocolate éclair before discussing her two marriages to Richard Burton.
12. Gifted
Air Date: 2013-06-13
Chris has a unique gift, the ability to heal the sick by touching them. However, he is also a germophobe, which makes him shy away from physical contact and live a lonely, secluded life. Then he meets Mona, a new colleague and single mother and - in all likelihood - his very first date. Simultaneously, his mother May is admitted to hospital with cancer. Can his newfound confidence after meeting Mona enable him to save his mother's life?
13. Psychobitches: Episode Four
Air Date: 2013-06-27
A troubled Nancy Spungen performs a couple of lewd songs, and Eve talks, with great regret, about her sexual relationship with Adam.
14. Psychobitches: Episode Five
Air Date: 2013-06-27
Mona Lisa confesses the truth behind her iconic smile.
1. The Dog Thrower
Air Date: 2014-05-01
Lonely man Jonah begins throwing his dog in the air and catching him after witnessing a charismatic man doing the same in a local park.
2. Nosferatu in Love
Air Date: 2014-05-08
While on location in the Czech Republic for a remake of the vampire classic, our tormented lead 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.
3. The Cruise
Air Date: 2014-05-15
Mobile hairdresser Jacky is one week from her silver anniversary dream cruise. But is husband Andy's hesitation just simple concern - or are darker forces at play?
4. Nightshift
Air Date: 2014-05-22
Two contrasting police officers tries to get through a long nightshift in South-East London.
5. Foxtrot
Air Date: 2014-05-29
Strippers Badger and the androgynous Fox, who poses as a boy, have kidnapped Ezra, a punter who injured one of their colleagues, and have him prisoner in a hotel room.
6. Space Age
Air Date: 2014-06-05
Dudley and John are two old men who gain a new lease of life thanks to a voluntary space mission.
7. Damned
Air Date: 2014-06-12
Two stressed social workers struggle to keep control of their private lives and chaotic office.
8. Timeless
Air Date: 2014-06-19
Young Chloe lives with great-grandmother Alice, whose husband was presumed dead in World War II. When a military officer visits, Chloe is afraid that she will be told that her soldier boyfriend has been killed in Afghanistan though the news is that Alice's husband Anthony's corpse has ben found after nearly 70 years, perfectly preserved in Iceland. The women travel to Reykjavik where Alice identifies the body, and also gives Chloe advice based on her own experiences.
9. King for a Term
Air Date: 2015-07-09
In 1980s Hackney, nine-year-old Akuna's proud father sees him as the next Eddy Grant, but Akuna is asthmatic, and must attend a special school for children with disabilities. Before long, he's fallen foul of sadistic teacher Mr Grimme, who labels him Asthma Boy. Akuna, however, with the help of a cheeky Scots fellow student, soon leads the rest of the class into humiliating Grimme, making Akuna 'King for a Term'.
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Rating
6.0/10
Release Date
2012-04-12
Episodes
34 (3 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Production Companies
Warp Films
Sky