Usually in our day-to-day lives the idea is to try to avoid drama, but in Showkids, coming to RTÉ One and RTÉ Player Sunday at 5.10pm, drama is life.
The new family comedy is set around a very special after-school drama class for talented kids, run by the brilliant but super-intimidating Miss Jessop. Watch the trailer up top!
The fun family show from RTÉ Kids has an all-star cast. Flynn Gray, who has just been added to the new Star Wars movie Starfighter, is in the lead role as Sam. His parents, Con and Sally, are played by Philippa Dunne (Amandaland) and Killian Sundermann (No Worries If Not). Comedy legend Ardal O'Hanlon stars as Granpa Charley and Line of Duty's Amy De Bhrún is Miss Bethany Jessop. Plus, there are lots more familiar and new faces coming to your screens.
Here's the story
See the world through the eyes of 12-year-old Sam Curtain, whose constant daydreaming is starting to cause mayhem in his life. When his parents stumble across Miss Jessop's, they wonder if drama might be the perfect way to harness Sam's imagination?
Sam soon finds he's discovered his tribe - other kids with equally vivid imaginations, inspired by Miss Jessop to use drama to help solve the problems they’re experiencing in their own lives. As well as experiencing his first, terrifying taste of showbiz, Sam has finally found somewhere he is free to let his imagination run wild - but this time, with a purpose!
The show is created and directed by former child star Hugh O'Conor, who acted opposite Liam Neeson in Lamb, as well as playing the young Christy Brown in the Oscar-winning My Left Foot, and he has drawn on his own often chaotic and exhilarating experiences on set.
Hugh collaborated with executive producer Nick Murphy (Moone Boy) and co-writers Amy Stephenson and Shane Langan (Diet of Worms) to bring the series to comedic life.
Hugh says: "This is a show for the whole family. And we really mean that! We’d love everyone to watch it. We’re very inspired by shows like The Simpsons, where the jokes are not just written for the kids. But there’s a real heart to it too. We have an amazing cast of young stars of tomorrow, but we also have some of the funniest comedy actors in the country. We can’t wait for you all to see it."
Showkids starts Sunday, 14 September on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 5.10pm.
