The Team

Scott Huff

JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR

Scott HuffJoint Managing DirectorJoint Managing Director, overseeing Playground’s full slate of television projects. He is Executive Producer of the upcoming crime drama UP TO NO GOOD starring Glenn Close for C4 and Sony Pictures Television, as well as the upcoming TREASURE ISLAND starring Hayley Atwell, David Oyelowo, and Jack Huston for MGM+, Paramount+, and 5th Season.

Previous Executive Producer credits include THE MISSING seasons 1 and 2 for the BBC and Starz, THE WHITE PRINCESS and THE SPANISH PRINCESS, and the limited series adaptation of HOWARDS END written by Academy Award winner Kenneth Lonergan.

Huff was an associate producer on the Golden Globe winning WOLF HALL, Emmy and Golden Globe nominated THE WHITE QUEEN, the Golden Globe nominated television film THE DRESSER and KING LEAR for the BBC and Amazon, which was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie.

In the theater, Huff is an Associate Producer on the critically acclaimed and Olivier Award and Tony Award winning play HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD and was previously an Associate Producer on the Broadway play LUCKY GUY starring Tom Hanks and MACBETH at the Park Avenue Armory starring Kenneth Branagh.

David Stern

JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR

David SternJoint Managing DirectorDavid joined Playground in 2019 and currently serves as Joint Managing Director, overseeing the day-to-day operations of Playground, including development, production and strategic partnerships, while Executive Producing such shows as TREASURE ISLAND, MAIGRET, LYNLEY and THE HARDACRES.

Prior to joining Playground, he was an independent producer of global premium scripted television and films. Credits include Executive Producer on Oscar winner Kenneth Lonergan’s critically acclaimed four-part adaptation of HOWARDS END for BBC and Starz, THE LAST TYCOON, starring Kelsey Grammer and Lily Collins for Amazon, ROSEMARY’S BABY, starring Zoe Saldana, for NBC, three seasons of DEPARTURE, starring Archie Punjabi and Christopher Plummer for Peacock, Emmy Award winning Indian crime drama DELHI CRIME for Netflix and the feature film MAGGIE MOORE(S) starring Tina Fey and Jon Hamm.

David previously served as Co-Head of Scripted Programming for venture capital backed entity Raze, co-founded by Sofia Vergara, where he devised and implemented an international scripted content strategy launch. He began his career as a talent and literary manager at Kipperman Management, where he managed the careers of award winning actors and writers in both the UK and the US. In 2024, David was honored by Variety as a selection for their The New Power of New York List.

Dan Leon

HEAD OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS

Dan LeonHead of Business AffairsDan joined Playground in the newly created role of Head of Business Affairs and Director of Operations in 2017. He handles the day to day running of the company and manages its strategic growth. Dan joined Playground from the BBC’s Rights & Business Affairs division, where he worked in Drama Commissioning across a number of acclaimed projects including THE STREET, ACCUSED, WOLF HALL, THE NIGHT MANAGER, HAPPY VALLEY and DEATH IN PARADISE.

Prior to that, Dan worked at Scottish producer IWC Media as a Production Executive and has held a variety of roles as a production manager, location manager and as a tour manager for various bands, a stint in stage management for PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in Sydney and collaborator on a number of film projects with acclaimed poet Tony Harrison.

Christine Healy

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Christine HealyDirector of ProductionChristine joined as Director of Production in 2024 and is responsible for the management & oversight of the physical production of the Playground slate – ensuring timely and on budget delivery. Previously she was Head of Production at New Pictures (The Spanish Princess, Des, Cobra, Catherine the Great) and former COO at Keshet UK. Her previous career as a freelance line producer credits include Doctor Foster, Indian Summers & Line of Duty. Christine is an active advocate for the UK HETV community through her work as Deputy Chair of BAFTA TV Committee and membership of Pact Council and ScreenSkills HETV Skills Council.

Colin Callender

FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN

Colin CallenderFounder & ChairmanSir Colin Callender CBE is a BAFTA, Emmy, Golden Globe, Olivier and Tony award winning producer, and Chairman of Playground LLC, a film and television production company he founded in 2012 based in New York and London. With unique experience successfully bridging the UK and US markets, Callender has been at the forefront of the international television co-production business with extensive experience commissioning and producing high end quality drama. As a pioneering Emmy, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning producer, Callender was one of the leading forces behind the new British independent production sector at the birth of Channel 4, and played a central role in HBO’s unprecedented commercial and critical success that helped transform the entertainment landscape, setting new benchmarks for quality film and television production. Since its launch in 2012, Playground has produced more than 90 hours of prime-time television drama garnering 16 Emmy nominations, 26 BAFTA nominations, 10 RTS nominations and 12 Golden Globe nominations, including a Golden Globe and BAFTA win for Best Miniseries. Playground’s television productions include WOLF HALL, the BAFTA and Golden Globe Award winning miniseries starring Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis and Claire Foy for BBC and Masterpiece on PBS, THE DRESSER, the RTS winning television adaptation of Ronald Harwood’s acclaimed play starring Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins and directed by Richard Eyre for BBC and Starz, HOWARDS END, Academy Award winner Kenneth Lonergan’s adaptation of EM Forster’s classic novel starring Hayley Atwell, Matthew Macfadyen and Tracey Ullman for BBC and Starz, and LITTLE WOMEN, adapted by Heidi Thomas and starring Emily Watson, Michael Gambon and Angela Lansbury for BBC and Masterpiece on PBS.

Most recently, Playground has produced KING LEAR, starring Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson and Florence Pugh and directed by Richard Eyre for BBC and Amazon, CHIMERICA, adapted by Lucy Kirkwood from her Oliver Award winning play and starring Alessandro Nivola, Cherry Jones and Sophie Okonedo for Channel 4, ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, based on the iconic novels by James Herriot for Channel 5 and Masterpiece on PBS, DANGEROUS LIAISONS, a reimagining of the 18th century novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos written by Harriet Warner for Starz, and THE UNDECLARED WAR written and directed by 7-time BAFTA winner Peter Kosminsky and starring Simon Pegg, Adrian Lester and Mark Rylance for Channel 4 and Peacock.

On the stage, Callender has produced a string of hits including Nora Ephron’s LUCKY GUY starring Tom Hanks in his stage debut which, at that time, became the highest-grossing play in the history of Broadway, MACBETH the groundbreaking production directed by and starring Ken Branagh at the Park Avenue Armory, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH winner of the Tony for Best Musical Revival and the acclaimed hit musical DEAR EVAN HANSEN winner of the Tony for Best Musical.

Christine Corner

FINANCE DIRECTOR

Christine CornerFinance DirectorChristine has worked as a Non-Executive Finance Director at Playground since 2016, overseeing finance strategy and programme structuring.

She was formerly a partner and Head of Film & TV at Grant Thornton; previously having led the media group at Baker Tilly. She has extensive industry experience across production, distribution, and advisory roles, from start-ups to company sales. She was formerly a PACT board director for nine years and is now Chair of its Finance Committee. She is an ICAEW Fellow.

Luke Flanagan

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Melissa Gallant

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Melissa GallantExecutive ProducerMelissa began her television career in BBC drama before moving to Talkback Thames' THE BILL where, as Series Editor, she oversaw hundreds of hours of prime-time television including the first ever live episode. Moving to Tiger Aspect to script edit the BAFTA nominated re-launch of MURPHY'S LAW, she then worked across both production and development on a range of shows including the RTS award winning PEAKY BLINDERS, and ROBIN HOOD. In 2014, Melissa joined Fifty Fathoms Productions as Head of Development. Melissa joined Playground as Creative Director in April 2017. She currently serves as Executive Producer of the acclaimed series ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL.

Mars LeClerc

CREATIVE EXECUTIVE

Mars LeClercCreative ExecutiveWhile earning her BFA in Film and Television Production from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Mars interned in development for Inner Child Productions and Amplify Pictures. After graduating, Mars rejoined Amplify where she assisted on the HBO documentary series 100 FOOT WAVE. She joined Playground in March 2023 as Executive Assistant to Colin Callender, Scott Huff and David Stern before being promoted to Creative Executive in 2024.

Sharon Moran

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Sharon MoranExecutive ProducerSharon trained at the BBC and worked on a variety of drama productions before leaving to join the independent production sector. Over the last 25 years, she has worked on feature films and various popular series such as LOVEJOY, PIE IN THE SKY, THE LYNLEY MYSTERIES, HOTEL BABYLON, CAMBRIDGE SPIES, SILK, CRIME & PUNISHMENT, WHITE TEETH & David Hare’s PAGE EIGHT, starring Bill Nighy & Rachel Weisz. More recently she worked on the critically acclaimed HOWARDS END and APPLE TREE YARD before joining Playground as company Production Manager.

Will Poole

PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE

Will PooleProduction ExecutiveWill has been working in television for over 25 years. He started his television career in post-production, working for numerous post facility houses in London. Moving into Production, Will spent 10 years working for the Nickelodeon network of channels working his way up to Head of Production for the international broadcaster. Since leaving Nickelodeon he has freelanced as a Production Manager and Line Producer on multiple series for the BBC and Apple TV+, most recently Line Producing two seasons of the BAFTA and Broadcast award-winning family drama LOVELY LITTLE FARM. Will joined Playground in September 2022 and works across our slate of productions.

Daniel Unitas

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, THEATRE

Daniel UnitasExecutive Producer, TheatreDaniel currently serves as an Associate Producer on the Tony and Olivier Award winning play HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD and works across Playground’s theatre slate. He joined Playground in 2018 after previously working at Scott Rudin Productions where he assisted on Broadway productions including HELLO, DOLLY!; CAROUSEL; THREE TALL WOMEN; A DOLL’S HOUSE PART TWO; films including LADY BIRD and EIGHTH GRADE as well as other new development. He previously interned at The Telsey Office, SpotCo and 321 Theatrical Management. Daniel is a proud graduate of the Production & Design Studio in the Drama Department of the Tisch School of Arts at New York University.

Jo White

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

Jo WhiteFinancial ControllerJo has been working in the Film & TV sector for more than 25 years. She began her career at Accountants Cape & Dalgleish (now part of Grant Thornton) where she specialized in audit & consultancy services within the media sector.

She then moved into the industry, working freelance for TV & Film production companies providing finance support and reporting to boards from start-ups to well-established companies.

Jo has been working with Playground for over 10 years.

Alexandria Anfield

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Michael Bontatibus

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

Michael BontatibusAssociate ProducerMichael previously worked at Playground as a development coordinator on productions including Starz limited series THE WHITE PRINCESS and THE SPANISH PRINCESS and the BBC/Starz series THE MISSING, along with stage projects such as HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Outside of Playground, he's worked a variety of operational roles in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions in New York, and is a producer of immersive theatre events internationally. He is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

Drew Craven

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Jenny Farris

ACCOUNTS SUPERVISOR

Jenny FarrisAccounts SupervisorJenny joined the accounts team at Playground in June 2017. Jenny completed her accounting and book-keeping training in 2005 and, after several years employment with an Accountancy firm, made the decision to follow her passion for film & television by moving into accounting in the entertainment industry. In 2012, she started working part time for a number of production companies including Eleven Film, Cats on the Roof Media and Second Act Productions.

Jo Healy

IN-HOUSE COORDINATOR

Jo HealyIn-House CoordinatorJo worked as a freelancer in high end television and film for 16 years, where she worked on many popular series such as Peaky Blinders, Gentleman Jack and Death in Paradise. She made the move in house and joined Playground in July 2023.

Maddie Hennessy

BUSINESS AFFAIRS EXECUTIVE

Caroline Monaghan

SENIOR CREATIVE EXECUTIVE

Caroline MonaghanSenior Creative ExecutiveA graduate of Fordham University with a degree in Film and Television and Digital and Emerging Media, Caroline began her career working for New York Women in Film & Television, championing professional and emerging female voices in the industry. She then was a Production Assistant at Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana’s Levinson/Fontana Company where she worked under showrunner Tom Fontana on Showtime’s CITY ON A HILL. Caroline joined Playground in 2019 and currently works under Scott Huff and David Stern across a full slate of television projects in the US and international co-productions.

Andrés Rial

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT

Suji Victoria

OFFICE ASSISTANT

General enquiries

contact@playgroundentertainment.comEmail us

New York · London