
The Painkiller Podcast
Fortnightly audio plays. An online theatre. Currently supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Episodes
33 episodes
#33 The Barrel of Laughs by Charles Macpherson
An anxious patient consults with a therapist about a problem that threatens to destroy him. But, as the session progresses, the patient starts to wonder whether the therapist might be part of the problem. The Barrell...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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10:54

#32 Slippy Maggie by Miranda Langley
You have been listening to Slippy Maggie, written by Miranda Langley, and starring Lesley Sharp as Jeanette. Slippy Maggie was directed by Alice Fitzgerald with sound design by Nico...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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14:30

#31 Serve, Fault, Ace by Lucy Curtis
The problem with theory is that once you’ve started, you can’t stop.”A student sits down to begin work on her dissertation. She has things to say but she’s finding it difficult to say them, and before long she begins to spiral.
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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9:19

#30 God of Circles by Billy Brooks
Foreseeing an endless succession of disasters and tragedies awaiting them beneath the streets of London, Charlotte and Samuel will do anything it takes in order to stay out of harm’s way. You have been listening to God of Circles
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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10:55

#29 Deja Vu by Sarah Baylis
Passing a restaurant window, a woman feels a powerful sense of connection to a man sitting inside, and is compelled to enter... Deja Vu was written by Sarah Baylis. It was performed by ...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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12:20

#28 I Love Television by Matthew Stephen Smith
Kyla and Dario are here to execute a job. Kyla has a knife. Dario has a secret.I Love Television was written by Matthew Stephen Smith and performed by Tamara Lawrance as Kyla and Philip Arditti as Dario. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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9:48

#27 Two Fingers by Rosaleen Cox
Ann works at Poundland. It isn’t the most exciting job, but when the gorgeous Larry Simmons walks in, that quickly starts to change.Two Fingers was written and performed by Rosaleen Cox, with Declan Rodgers as Larry.&...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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11:05

#26 The Dig by Stephen Condor - performed by Hannah Stokley
Cathy is gardening. Or at least, she’s pretending to. The truth is she’s looking for something. Something she doesn’t necessarily want to find.The Dig was written by Stephen Condor. It was performed
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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12:12

#25 Fracture Mechanics by Hester Styles-Vickery - performed by Kate O'Flynn
Fracture Mechanics was written by Hester Styles-Vickery. It was performed by Kate O’Flynn. Fracture Mechanics was directed by Georgie Staight with sound design by Nicola T Chang.
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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10:06

#24 Tree Rings by Mandy Wheeler - performed by Sarah Woodward and Breffni Holahan
"A young woman has a question to ask. It’s a big question, it could change everything. She needs to be prepared."Tree Rings was written by Mandy Wheeler. It was performed by Breffni Holahan as Am...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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10:54

#23 Clear-Up by Charlotte Cromie - performed by Daniel Ings
Ethan’s a different person when he’s drunk. And one morning, clearing up after the night before turns out to be a bigger job than he’d expected.Clear-Up was written by Charlotte Cromie and performed by Daniel Ings.
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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10:01

#22 Moderation by Alice McKee - performed by Freya Mavor
A social media moderator is forced to view thousands of graphic images every day. At a toddler’s birthday party, she finds herself plagued by intrusive thoughts. Moderation was written by Alice McKee and per...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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11:42

#21 Send Nudes written and performed by Katie Burnett
It can be easy and simple, it can be fun and sexy, but sometimes it can be more. A nude image is not just a photo – but also a reflection of our hopes and dreams.Send Nudes was written and performed by Katie Burnett. It w...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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11:12

#20 Bath Time by Daisy Hall - performed by Anna Chancellor and Jason Watkins
Alfred is desperate to get in the bath but for his own good, Marjory won’t let him. He knows she’s right of course, but surely one toe wouldn’t hurt? Bath Time was written by Daisy Hall and performed by Jas...
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12:27

#19 Sharp by Cat Kolubayev - performed by Aisling Franciosi and Troy Alexander
Gina is flying home from Puerto Rico when her plane makes an unscheduled stop. Before long, she is in an interrogation room, trying to answer some awkward questions about the contents of her suitcase.Sharp was written by Cat ...
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11:28

#18 Tremors by Nadya Menuhin - performed by Tamsin Greig
Feeling the rumblings of violence and social collapse, a woman prepares for the end of the world. As she does, it becomes increasingly clear that everyone else is ignoring the inevitable. Tremors was...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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10:56

#17 Fib by Annie Williams - performed by Aimie Atkinson
"I have lied about a lot of things. I have lied about where I live, how old I am, about why I’m late to the party. I have lied about reading certain books, about visiting certain countries, about having an A in GCSE Spanish. I have lied abo...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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9:00

#16 Box Ticking by Robert Darke - performed by Conor MacNeill
"We both agreed that I was the funny one in the relationship. The only joke I ever told she didn't like was that one about those little Thai footy fellas that fell down that well and had to be scoobied out by that fella that turned out to n...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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13:38

#15 Breech by Georgia Green - performed by Jessica Clark
Deep in the heart of the Devon countryside, Billie and her boyfriend are trying to enjoy a romantic getaway when they are interrupted by a strange encounter. As her boyfriend searches for help, Billie decides to take the problem into her ow...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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12:45

#14 The Utopians by Joe Regan - performed by Tom Mothersdale
"They say travel broadens the mind. It’s flattened mine. I really should think about leaving this hostel soon. This hostel’s largely the problem, I suspect. There’s a younger crowd here. The Utopians, I call them. I’ve lived a little longer...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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14:53

#13 Shadows Burning by William Dobson - performed by Chris Lew Kum Hoi
"A kill’s a kill. Death comes as a thief in the night, wearing only socks. Or a waiter slipping poison into the groom’s champagne. I don’t choose my hits. Some do, but I think that’s a recipe for discrimination."When an assassi...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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15:06

#12 Tenants by Marcus Orlandi - performed by Rachel Stirling
"Yes, I know you've only got your pension to live off and no, I know it's not much these days, but what do you think my mortgage is going to do, pay itself?"Matilda has been renting out her second home for years and those walls ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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9:36

#11 Arsehole by Louis Catliff - performed by Daniel Portman
#11 Arsehole by Louis Catliff - performed by Daniel Portman"I know what you’re thinking. How can you let them do that to you? Just sit there and get pumped full of semi-digested fast food for a dare by some spotty little orc and his...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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18:44

#10 Wow! I Feel Nothing by Nicola Maclean - performed by Kate Fleetwood
"My mum had three rules for sex: Rule 1: Keep your head down, eyes up.Rule 2: Always take your pill.Rule 3: If they ask you, "Who's your daddy?" tell them you can't remember. It always throws them off."Olive is walk...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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10:06
