Airs Wednesday 27 August 2008
- from bbc website.
My Zinc Bed: a compelling adaptation of David Hare's acclaimed play for BBC Two – Wednesday 27 August 2008, 9.00-10.10pm
Uma Thurman (Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction), Jonathan Pryce (Pirates Of The Caribbean, Leatherheads) and Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum, My Summer Of Love) star in David Hare's adaptation of his acclaimed stage play My Zinc Bed, a compelling one-off drama for BBC Two from BBC and HBO Films.
This powerful, provocative and at times sinister single drama from Oscar-nominated writer Hare (The Hours, Stuff Happens) explores the nature of addiction – whether to drink, to relationships, or to business – with outstanding performances from the trio of actors, whose characters are each enslaved by their own resilient habits.
When recovering alcoholic Paul Peplow (Paddy Considine) is sent to interview wealthy businessman Victor Quinn (Jonathan Pryce), he unwillingly finds himself on the receiving end of Victor's outspoken views on addiction.
To his surprise Paul is offered a job by Victor in his internet business, which Paul, struggling to make ends meet, accepts.
Victor's obsession with addiction soon makes sense when Paul meets Victor's beautiful wife Elsa (Uma Thurman) – who reveals that she herself is a recovering alcoholic.
Finding a kindred spirit in each other Paul and Elsa embark upon an affair – but the dependence that pulls them together is also the force that drives them apart.
My Zinc Bed is the first of three single dramas on BBC Two and is followed by God On Trial starring Anthony Sher and Rupert Graves and A Number starring Tom Wilkinson and Rhys Ifans.
My Zinc Bed is directed by Anthony Page (Middlemarch), produced by Tracey Scoffield, Frank Doelger and Lee Morris, and Executive Produced by Robert Fox and David Thompson for the BBC.
It is produced by Rainmark Films and was commissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction.
This one-off drama follows the success of the recent Curse Of Comedy single dramas on BBC Four, Bafta-nominated Stuart – A Life Backwards (BBC Two) and the Bafta and Ivor Novello-nominated Primo (BBC Four).
My Zinc Bed was originally commissioned, developed and performed as a stage play at the Royal Court Theatre, London.