Devil's Playground is an Australian psychological thriller television series which premiered on Showcase on 9 September 2014. It was created as a sequel to the 1976 film, The Devil's Playground. The series begins in 1988 and follows the story of Tom Allen, a recently widowed psychiatrist and a secular counselor to the Catholic clergy, who becomes entangled in political and theological intrigue. Simon Burke reprised his role as Tom Allen.
Development On 26 November 2012, Matchbox Pictures announced that they would produce a drama series for Foxtel that would serve as a continuation to the 1976 film The Devil's Playground.
The series is produced by Helen Bowden, Penny Chapman and Blake Ayshford and directed by Rachel Ward and Tony Krawitz. It is written by Blake Ayshford, Cate Shortland, Alice Addison and Tommy Murphy and the Executive Producers are Tony Ayres, Penny Win and Simon Burke.
Synopsis
The year is 1988. It is 35 years after the events of Fred Schepisi's classic film, The Devil's Playground. Tom Allen, now in his 40s and recently widowed, is a respected Sydney psychiatrist and father of two children. A practising Catholic, Tom accepts an offer by the Bishop of Sydney to become a counsellor of priests. During these sessions and other events, he uncovers a scandal that embroils him through a personal hell hole and the Church's various attempts to cover it up. Tom's quest for justice pushes him to his limits, but it reveals a dark-side of the Church's power and the extent of official corruption, which he could never have envisaged.
Cast
Main cast Simon Burke as Tom Allen, psychiatrist, reprising his role from the 1979 film Don Hany as Bishop Vincent Quaid John Noble as Bishop John McNally Andrew McFarlane as Father Marco Andrassi Anna Lise Phillips as Alice Kelly, Tom's neighbour and lover Jarin Towney as Elliot Darcy, student Morgana Davies as Bridie Allen, Tom's daughter Toni Collette as NSW MP Margaret Wallace Jack Thompson as Cardinal Constantine Neville
Recurring cast James Fraser as David Allen, Tom's gay son Matt Levett as Brendan Mahony, street prostitute with a secret Ben Hall as Finton Kelly, Alice's son Leon Ford as Brother Paul Warner, Elliot's teacher Uli Latukefu as Father Matteo, Quaid's assistant Jessica Donoghue as Catherine Darcy, Elliot's mother Jason Klarwein as Matthew Darcy, Elliot's father Malcolm Kennard as Joe Kelly, Alice's husband Max Cullen as Father Joyce, elderly member of the clergy Joe Petruzzi as Bishop Mafucci Darren Gilshenan as Father Lenken
Episodes
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref 2015 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor John Noble Most Outstanding Miniseries or Telemovie Devil's Playground
References