Playhouse Presents To Return To Sky Arts

Single-play series Playhouse Presents is to return to Sky Arts and will feature the directorial debuts of Doctor Who actor Matt Smith and Luther actor Idris Elba. The new series of one-off plays feature appearances from David Harewood, Vanessa Redgrave and Kylie Minogue.

Sky has announced that Playhouse Present will return later this year; the announcement was made as the broadcaster announced a raft of drama and comedy commissions across its range of channels. Amongst the new commissions announce are a new drama for Sky Atlantic on James Bond author Ian Fleming starring Dominic Cooper while Mad Dogs will return to Sky One for a two-part finale.

Sky also provided details of the new series of one-off plays that will feature under the Playhouse Presents banner. As mentioned above both Matt Smith and Idris Elba will make their directorial debut as will Marc Warren who will script his play – as too will Idris Elba.

Marc Warren’s play is titled Hey Diddly Dee and the dark comedy will star Mat Horne, Peter Serafinowicz, David Harewood, Lee Boardman and in casting certainly to make headlines Australian actress and singer Kylie Minogue will also appear in the play. Matt Smith will play his directorial debut in Cargese written by Simon Stephens. Artist Grayson Perry and Kate Hudson are the creators of Mr. Understood; a drama following a young transvestite as he battles with self doubt.

The other films in the Playhouse Presents strand will be Nightshift by Jimmy Gardner and Pavement Psychologist written and directed by Luther’s Idris Elba and starring Anna Friel. Finally Union Square, written by Carlo Nero, will star Samantha Bond, Stephen Graham and Vanessa Redgrave.