''Devil's Playground'' is an Australian

psychological thriller Psychological thriller is a genre combining the thriller and psychological fiction genres. It is commonly used to describe literature or films that deal with psychological narratives in a thriller or thrilling setting. In terms of context and c ...

television series which premiered on

Showcase Showcase or vitrine may refer to: *Cabinet (furniture) *Display case Music * ''Showcase'' (Bill Anderson album), 1964 * ''Showcase'' (Patsy Cline album), 1961 * ''Showcase'' (Buddy Holly album), 1964 * ''Showcase'' (Philly Joe Jones album), 1959 ...

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 Simon Gareth Burke (born 8 October 1961) is an Australian actor, active in films, television and theatre. Biography Simon Burke began his career at the age of 12, starring in Michael Cove's ''Kookaburra''; a painful look at a dysfunctional wo ...

reprised his role as Tom Allen.

Development

On 26 November 2012,

Matchbox Pictures Matchbox Pictures is a film and television production company headquartered in Sydney with production houses in Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore. It was formed in 2008 by Tony Ayres, Penny Chapman, Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon and Helen Panckhu ...

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 Penny Chapman is an Australian television producer. Her work includes the award-winning ''Brides of Christ,'' '' RAN Remote Area Nurse'' and ''My Place''. Penny received the Maura Fay Award for Services to the Industry at the 2013 Screen Produce ...

and Blake Ayshford and directed by

Rachel Ward Rachel Claire Ward (born 12 September 1957) is an English-Australian

and Tony Krawitz. It is written by Blake Ayshford, Cate Shortland, Alice Addison and Tommy Murphy and the Executive Producers are

Tony Ayres Tony Ayres (born 16 July 1961) is an Australian showrunner, screenwriter, director in television and feature film. He is most notable for his films '' Walking on Water'' and '' The Home Song Stories'', as well his work in television, includi ...

, Penny Win and

Synopsis

The year is 1988. It is 35 years after the events of

Fred Schepisi Frederic Alan Schepisi ( ; Kael, Pauline (1984). '' Taking It All In''. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. p. 55. born 26 December 1939) is an Australian film director, producer and screenwriter. His credits include '' The Chant of Jimmie ...

'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

as Tom Allen *

John Noble John Noble (born 20 August 1948) is an Australian actor. He is known for his roles as Denethor in the ''Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy, Dr. Walter Bishop on the science fiction series ''Fringe'', Henry Parrish on the action-horror series '' ...

as Bishop John McNally * Don Hany as Bishop Vincent Quaid *

Jack Thompson Jack Thompson may refer to: Sports * Jack Thompson (footballer, born 1892) (1892–1969), English footballer who played for Sheffield United and Bristol City * Jack Thompson (1920s footballer), English footballer who played for Aston Villa and Brig ...

as Cardinal Constantine Neville *

Toni Collette Toni Collette Galafassi (born Toni Collett; 1 November 1972) is an Australian actress, producer, singer, and songwriter. Known for her work in television and independent films, she has received various accolades throughout her career, inclu ...

as NSW MP Margaret Wallace * Andrew McFarlane as Father Marco Andrassi * Uli Latukefu as Father Matteo *

Max Cullen Max Cullen (born 29 April 1940) is an Australian stage and screen actor. He has appeared in many Australian films and television series but is best known for his role in the film '' Spider and Rose'' and the television series '' The Flying Docto ...

as Father Joyce * Leon Ford as Brother Warren * James Fraser as David Allen * Malcolm Kennard as Joe Kelly * Anna Lise Phillips as Alice Kelly * Ben Hall as Finton Kelly * Fletcher Watson as Peter Kelly * Jason Klarwein as Matthew Darcy * Jessica Donoghue as Catherine Darcy * Jarin Towney as Elliot Darcy * Coco Jack Gillies as Megan Darcy * Avani Farriss as Rachel Darcy * Matt Levett as Brendan Mahony * Rory Potter as Cavanagh

Episodes

Awards and nominations

References

{{AACTA Award TeleFilmMiniSeries 2010–2029 Australian drama television series 2014 Australian television series debuts English-language television shows Showcase (Australian TV channel) original programming Television series by Matchbox Pictures