The Cage: Michael Socha Tells Us About His New ITV Drama

Are you staying in this week? If you missed it on Sunday, it’s time to tune into The Cage, the BBC’s latest drama starring Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha as two casino employees swindling their workplace to stay afloat. We sat down with Michael to find out more.

Leanne (SHERIDAN SMITH) & Matty (MICHAEL SOCHA) in The Cage. (BBC/Element Pictures)

Q&A: Michael Socha On The Cage

Hi Michael, how’s life going at the moment?

Everything’s good at the moment! I’m working on a project called The Witch Farm in Wales, at Dragon Studios. I love Wales. I’m really enjoying the job, having lots of fun.

You can currently be seen in The Cage – can you give us an elevator pitch for the show?

The Cage is a fast paced crime drama with love and family at its core.

Matty (MICHAEL SOCHA) in The Cage. (BBC/Element Pictures)

You play Matty – how would you describe him? What was it like playing him?

Matty is the manager of a casino, and he’s stealing from the casino. He is really lost at the beginning of the show: he is a gambling addict and an addict in many senses, really. He’s trying to keep his head above water. He loves his kid a lot, Emily, but he’s just really struggling to remain a consistent figure in her life.

How did you get into character?

I didn’t really have to focus too much on transforming into Matty. I tried to rely on my own experiences and go with that, really, rather than put on too much of a character and a thing.

Matty (MICHAEL SOCHA) in The Cage. (BBC/Element Pictures)

Did you do anything special to prepare for the role?

I did: I went to the casino. The manager of the Grosvenor Casino in Liverpool, Ross, sort of took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. I spent quite a long time in the casino, both as an observer and as a punter, and I realised how dangerous gambling can be. It’s definitely a rocky road.

Who was your favourite person to work with?

Al Mackay, the director. I always really enjoy working with him. I’ve been working with him for a long time, over the years. I think I might have done Al’s first ever short film [Bale, 2009], but I’ve always found it a really fun exercise. He is a really thoughtful, patient and kind director, and I would have beautiful chats with Al, with regards to Matty, during filming. Every day on set with Al is a blessing. I really enjoy my time with him.

Michael Socha as Justin Mitchell in Showtrial. (BBC)

What has been your favourite project to date?

There’s a couple, and for different reasons. This is England because it was just so much fun working with a bunch of like minded people. I had great fun both with the cast and the crew. But then also, I really enjoyed Showtrial, playing Justin Mitchell. I enjoy playing the sort of arrogant, cocksure bent copper, and for certain reasons, it’s nice to play a character influenced by the past. Having lots of arrogance-slash-vulnerabilities within a character is something I find really fun to play. And Julia Ford, the director, was amazing to work with, too.

Do you get to spend much time at home?

I do – as much as I can, to be honest. If I’ve got more than two days off work, I’ll go home. I enjoy my home, and the people in my hometown.

Do you live in the town or the country? Which do you prefer?

I live in Derby, which is a small city but surrounded by absolutely gorgeous countryside. Fifteen minutes away, you’re in the Peaks; it’s gorgeous. So even though I’m from the city, I try to spend as much time out in the countryside as possible. I really enjoy the countryside. I enjoy hiking and long walks, so I always try and make sure I’ve got myself a bit of nature time.

What’s your interior design style?

I’ve just bought a new house, and before I bought any furniture, I bought art. So basically, I’m fitting the colours around the art that I bought. I don’t know if it was a stupid decision to buy the art before the furniture – but once I’d purchased the art, I then had an idea of the colour scheme I wanted. It’s not very regimented: I like lots of different colours and styles. I like a mismatch of different things, other than in my bedroom where I’ve gone with a Japanese Zen style. I like to keep a really calm environment in the bedroom – no television, nice and chilled. ‘Japanese Zen’ is the only way I can describe it, whereas the rest of the house is a little bit, let’s say, colourful and slightly chaotic.

How do you find balance in your personal and work lives?

When I go to work, I’m at work, and I understand that I’m staying in a place that isn’t my home. I’m there to work – so I can definitely differentiate my headspace. When I get home, my life’s quite chilled. I enjoy keeping fit and healthy, and try to keep us active. I like to explore, and to find new things. I often find new interests and hobbies. I’ve got a great circle of friends that also enjoy finding new hobbies or jumping on a bandwagon, or sometimes I carve out my own new interests and hobbies. But I do like to chill and recalibrate when I’m at home, and then when I’m at work, I’m back to the grind – character focused and work focused.

Anything fun in the pipeline – professionally or personally?

Yes, I’m doing The Witch Farm, written by Danny Robbins. I’m playing Bill Rich, who is an artist who’s moved into a haunted house with his wife, and things get spooky. I’m really enjoying that.

What Michael Socha Is Loving Right Now

I’m currently watching… Bait with Riz Ahmed and Guz Khan, Prime Video

What I’m reading… Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

The last thing I watched (and loved) was… Pluribus, Apple TV

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… Stephen Graham in Good Boy

Favourite film of all time… Gummo by Harmony Korine (1997)

Favourite song of all time… ‘The Reckoning Song’ by Asaf Avidan

Band/singer I always have on repeat… Hippie Sabotage

Michael Socha stars in The Cage, Sunday nights at 9pm on BBC One.

All episodes are streaming now on BBC iPlayer.

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