Writing

David Mercer

Born — Died

1928-06-27 — 1980-08-08

Place of birth

Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, UK

Known for

Writing

Credits

20 titles

Known for

A Doll's House poster
4.9

Nora Helmer lives a quiet life with her husband, Torvald, in a small Norwegian town. While he works diligently at a bank, she looks after their children. But Torvald doesn't know that several years ago, when he was very ill and she was desperate for money, Nora forged a loan document and has been secretly working to pay the money back ever since. The arrival of her friend Kristine prompts Nora to re-evaluate her life and confront Torvald.

A Doll's House

1973

Providence poster
6.6

On the eve of his 78th birthday, ailing, alcoholic writer Clive Langham spends a painful and sleepless night mentally composing and recomposing scenes for a novel in which characters based on his own family are shaped by his fantasies and memories, alongside his caustic commentary on their behaviour.

Providence

1977

Family Life poster
7.2

A young woman, Janice, is living with her restrictive and conservative parents, who lead a dull working-class life and consider their daughter to be “misbehaving” whenever she’s trying to find her own way in life.

Family Life

1971

For Tea on Sunday poster
NR

An unexpected force shatters the urbane calm of a Sunday afternoon tea party.

For Tea on Sunday

1978

A Dinner of Herbs poster
NR

Jane, an English journalist goes to Israel to write on the Palestinian situation and meets and falls in love with an Israeli professor of English. As their love affair develops, they realize they have opposing views on Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.

A Dinner of Herbs

1988

And Did Those Feet ? poster
10.0

Lord Fountain hates his illegitimate twin boys as he does not seem to be able to produce legitimate heirs.

And Did Those Feet ?

1965

Behind the camera

A Doll's House poster
4.9

Nora Helmer lives a quiet life with her husband, Torvald, in a small Norwegian town. While he works diligently at a bank, she looks after their children. But Torvald doesn't know that several years ago, when he was very ill and she was desperate for money, Nora forged a loan document and has been secretly working to pay the money back ever since. The arrival of her friend Kristine prompts Nora to re-evaluate her life and confront Torvald.

A Doll's House

1973

Providence poster
6.6

On the eve of his 78th birthday, ailing, alcoholic writer Clive Langham spends a painful and sleepless night mentally composing and recomposing scenes for a novel in which characters based on his own family are shaped by his fantasies and memories, alongside his caustic commentary on their behaviour.

Providence

1977

Family Life poster
7.2

A young woman, Janice, is living with her restrictive and conservative parents, who lead a dull working-class life and consider their daughter to be “misbehaving” whenever she’s trying to find her own way in life.

Family Life

1971

For Tea on Sunday poster
NR

An unexpected force shatters the urbane calm of a Sunday afternoon tea party.

For Tea on Sunday

1978

A Dinner of Herbs poster
NR

Jane, an English journalist goes to Israel to write on the Palestinian situation and meets and falls in love with an Israeli professor of English. As their love affair develops, they realize they have opposing views on Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.

A Dinner of Herbs

1988

And Did Those Feet ? poster
10.0

Lord Fountain hates his illegitimate twin boys as he does not seem to be able to produce legitimate heirs.

And Did Those Feet ?

1965

90° in the Shade poster
5.7

In a Prague shop, an assistant has been carrying on an affair with the dishonest, married manager. An emotionally repressed auditor with domestic problems of his own uncovers serious stock discrepancies. A test of loyalties and a questioning of values concludes in tragedy.

90° in the Shade

1965

No artwork available
NR

Harry Watson has kept his feelings for his children to himself.

A Rod of Iron

1980

The Cellar and the Almond Tree poster
NR

The Countess lives in her East European palace, oblivious to the new regime that has moved in. After the war Volubin, a Marxist writer, is instructed to obtain from her the keys to her wine-cellar, which are needed for a celebration dinner. First shown in 1970, this play charts the transition of dictatorial power in the 20th century.

The Cellar and the Almond Tree

1970

Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment poster
6.3

Morgan, an aggressive and self-admitted dreamer, a fantasist who uses his flights of fancy as refuge from external reality, where his unconventional behavior lands him in a divorce from his wife, Leonie, trouble with the police and, ultimately, incarceration in a lunatic asylum.

Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment

1966

An Afternoon at the Festival poster
NR

Ahead of a screening of his latest film a director converses with a prostitute, whilst his female star and estranged wife talks to a writer, his brother. Intercut are scenes from the film, and the making of it.

An Afternoon at the Festival

1973

On the Eve of Publication poster
7.0

TV play by David Mercer. First in a trilogy concerning Marxist novelist Robert Kelvin. The occasion is a dinner party, Kelvin is concerned with a summation of his life, addressed in his head to his lover, Emma.

On the Eve of Publication

1968

You and Me and Him poster
NR

A man has a three-way conversation between himself, his inner thoughts and as a psychiatrist. Part of the BBC Thirty Minute Theatre strand.

You and Me and Him

1973

No artwork available
9.0

Two couples let tensions build between them in this 'Wednesday Play'.

Let's Murder Vivaldi

1968

Emma's Time poster
NR

After the death of novelist Robert Kelvin, his mistress Emma tries to adjust and reflects upon their relationship.

Emma's Time

1970

In Two Minds poster
7.0

Kate, a young girl under psychiatric examination, suffers from a lack of confidence, self-esteem and self-control – telling of the “bad Kate” who commits immoral acts. Could the hypocrisy, selfishness and weakness of those around her have led to this state of mind or can Kate simply be diagnosed and dismissed as a schizophrenic?

In Two Minds

1967

Where the Difference Begins poster
7.5

A family gather together as their mother lies dying. Death brings conflicts into sharp focus - not least between brothers Edgar and Richard…

Where the Difference Begins

1961

Shooting the Chandelier poster
NR

During the closing days of the Second World War, a young Czechoslovakian woman, Blanka, is caught between ideologies of the Soviet regime. Part of BBC2 Play of the Week.

Shooting the Chandelier

1977

The Bankrupt poster
8.0

Ellis Cripper has lost his money and his memory; in different ways he tries to make sense of his situation.

The Bankrupt

1972

The Parachute poster
NR

As the Nazis grow ever more powerful in Germany, Werner grows up in an aristocratic household, hating his domineering father and making enemies in high places.

The Parachute

1968