Playwright Conor McPherson writes first original TV series

Olivier-award winning actress Denise Gough (Stella) and Victoria‘s Tom Hughes are to star in BBC Two’s new three-part revenge drama, Paula.

Written by award-winning playwright and filmmaker Conor McPherson, Paula (played by Gough) is a thrilling story about the fallout in a young Chemistry teacher’s life, after her one-night stand with a good-looking but dangerous ducker and diver. There is an instant, animalistic, spark of attraction before they become locked in a dance of mutual destruction. Only one can survive, but their actions will take a terrifying toll on all those around them.

Owen McDonnell (Spooks) will also star in the thriller.

Denise Gough says: “Having worked with Conor McPherson on stage I am so excited to work with him again on this amazing project. He’s written a script that I know all of us involved feel very privileged to be part of bringing to life. Paula is a brilliantly complex woman and I can’t wait to play her.”

Conor McPherson says: “It’s a great pleasure to work with the BBC and Cuba Pictures on this series. Exploring new ways to tell stories is always an inspiring challenge and the opportunity to weave a drama across three evenings is one I have enjoyed immensely. The trust and freedom they have given me at every step is something every writer dreams about and the astonishing cast they have assembled couldn’t be more exciting.”

Paula is made by BBC NI Drama with Cuba Pictures and directed by Alex Holmes (Coalition, House of Saddam).

Paula begins filming in Belfast in October.