Pleasureland

{{Short description|2003 film directed by Brian Percival}} {{About|a television series|the amusement park|Pleasureland Southport}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2010}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}} {{Use British English|date=February 2014}} {{Infobox television | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | alt_name = | native_name =  | genre = Drama | creator = | based_on = {{Based on|Pleasureland (opera)|John Adams|}} | inspired_by =  | developer = | writer = Helen Blakeman | screenplay = Helen Blakeman | story = | director = Brian Percival | creative_director = | presenter =  | starring = Katie Lyon <br>Claire Hackett <br>Philip Olivier <br>Barry Sloane | judges =  | voices =  | narrator = | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = Ric Featherstone <br>Magnus Fiennes | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_seasons =  | num_episodes =  | list_episodes = | executive_producer = Natasha Dack | producer = Joanne O'Sullivan | news_editor =  | location = Merseyside | cinematography = David Katznelson | animator = | editor = Kristina Hetherington | camera =  | runtime = 71 minutes | company = Kudos Productions | budget = | network = Channel 4 | released = {{Start date|2003|11|16|df=y}} | related =  }}

'''''Pleasureland''''' is a 2003 Channel 4 feature-length television drama focusing on a group of teenagers in Liverpool who feel pressured to grow up. Written by Helen Blakeman, directed by Brian Percival and produced by Kudos, the makers of the BBC One espionage series ''Spooks''.

The drama was based on the John Adams opera ''Pleasureland'' and was filmed on location in Liverpool as part of the Channel 4's Adult at 14 season.

== Plot ==

A modern tale of teenage sex, ''Pleasureland'' is the story of Jo, a 14-year-old Scouser, who wakes up one day and decides she has to change her virgin status. In fact, she makes a promise to herself: 'I, Joanna Mosscroft, aged 14, year nine, almost year 10, promise me, Joanna Mosscroft, to have sex.' She is also motivated to have sex because it seems as if that is what all of the girls at school seem to be talking about; thus, she feels pressured to lose her virginity. With that, she sets off on a rollercoaster journey of first-time-for-everything. Jo soon becomes embroiled in a world of sex, drugs and betrayal.

== Cast == Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pleasureland (2003) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8a16e25f |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131100607/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8a16e25f |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 January 2020 |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=BFI |language=en}}</ref> * Katie Lyon as Joanna Mosscroft * Claire Hackett as Julie Mosscroft * Michael Dunn as Greg Mosscroft * Melissa Edwards as Michelle Mosscroft * Michael Bailey as Greg Mosscroft * Tara Wells as Katie * Leah Whittaker as Sophie * Claire Bailey as Lisa * Philip Olivier as Ben * Barry Sloane as Darren * Holly Shwenn as Leanne * Letitia Denny as Chantelle * Mark Fenna as Rocky * Clive Moore as Mr. Stevens * Guy Parry as Guy in Bar * Sarah Harvey as Train Girl

== Critical reception == The show attracted criticism by children's campaigners over the way in which it depicted teenage sex.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Echo |first=Liverpool |date=2003-11-10 |title=Mersey TV drama is branded 'sick' |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/mersey-tv-drama-branded-sick-3549603 |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=Liverpool Echo |language=en}}</ref>

Victoria Segal writing for ''The Times'' praised Katie Lyons performance as the protagonist and labelled her as 'one to watch'.<ref>{{Cite news |title=One to watch |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/one-to-watch-0rcvz55qgvw |access-date=2022-03-08 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> She also selected ''Pleasureland'' as her 'Pick of the day' in the TV section of ''The Sunday Times'' on November 16, 2003, despite describing it as 'difficult and unpleasant viewing'.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Segal |first=Victoria |date=November 16, 2003 |title=Pick of the day |work=The Sunday Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/?sunday |access-date=March 8, 2022}}</ref>

== Awards ==

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !Year !Award !Nominee !Category ! style="min-width: 8em" |Result !Ref. |- |2003 |Royal Television Society Programme Awards |Katie Lyon |Network Newcomer – On Screen|| {{won}} |<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2006-09-24 |title=Royal Television Society - Programme |url=http://www.rts.org.uk/awards.asp?sec_id=622&from=section |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924230909/http://www.rts.org.uk/awards.asp?sec_id=622&from=section |archive-date=24 September 2006 |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Guardian Staff |date=2004-03-17 |title=RTS Programme Awards: full list of winners |url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/mar/17/broadcasting |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> |- |2003 |Royal Television Society Programme Awards |Helen Blakeman (writer) |Network Newcomer – Behind the Screen |{{nom}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2004 |Royal Television Society Design and Craft Awards |David Katznelson (DOP) |Photography (Drama) |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-01-24 |title=RTS Craft and Design Winners 2004 |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-craft-and-design-winners-2004 |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=Royal Television Society |language=en}}</ref> |- |2004 |British Academy Television Craft Awards |Helen Blakeman (writer) |New Writer |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 Television Craft New Writer {{!}} BAFTA Awards |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2004/tvcraft/new-writer |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref> |}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.channel4.com/programmes/pleasureland ''Pleasureland'', ''Channel 4''] * {{IMDb title|id=0387502|title=Pleasureland}} * [https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2003/oct/05/features.review27 Article in the Observer] * [https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Explosive+mix+of+sex%2C+drugs+and+teenagers%3B+Neil+Hughes+meets+the+cast...-a0109744437 Article in The Daily Post (Liverpool)]

Category:Channel 4 television dramas Category:2003 television specials Category:Films about virginity Category:British television films Category:Films directed by Brian Percival