The Cage

Intricate and complex, The Cage is a new series starring Michael Socha, Sheridan Smith and Barry Sloane. It follows the duo of Matty and Leanne, two desperate souls in need of quick cash as their whole lives fall apart. Matty is a gambling addict behind on his child maintenance payments; Leanne is saving up for a house as the impending loss of their council home looms alongside the deteriorating health of her grandmother. Working in the same casino, the two realise they have both been stealing from the cash vault. Meanwhile, a hidden drug operation is running throughout that same casino.

The definitive highlight of The Cage is its characters and its tackling of themes of family and friendship. Behind its comedic dialogue and the fascinating threads of heists, drug runs and violence, The Cage focuses on the interpersonal connections of the two main characters with their families, and each other. There’s this juxtaposition in Matty, as he works at a casino yet is a slave to gambling himself. It’s how he tries to distance himself from his daughter, but also banters easily with her. These contradictions, alongside Socha’s portrayal, allow the audience to sympathise with Matty. Smith’s performance as Leanne is well-composed, exuding a tight air of confidence with her chin tilted up and a sharp, judgmental gaze. But when it comes to her love for her family, that mask shatters, and viewers are rewarded with a more vulnerable and uncertain side.

This core theme of family is best presented through the contrast between the two leads’ relationships with their children. Matty is a distant father who cannot even provide financial support for his daughter, freely showcasing the worst parts of himself to her – including his downtrodden way of life and penchant for criminality in his desperation. But she still shows unwavering love for him, putting in the effort to be present in his life and steer him away from his misguided direction. Meanwhile, Leanne showers her son with care and affection, and everything she does is for the love of her family. But her son lies, takes advantage of the money he’s given and rebels by falling in with a bad group of friends. These contrasting parental connections elucidate how familial love can manifest and affect people in different ways.

The production adheres to the casino aesthetic, using overhead shots to capture the roulette table and draw a parallel with the chance aspect of the storyline. There’s always movement in the cinematography, especially within the casino, whether that be tracking shots or the camera panning across the room. It evokes a feeling that every little detail and every person captured in frame is part of the whole operation. Lines, doors and cages symbolise entrapment – as if the characters have no other choice but to steal. These visuals create a sense of suffocation that heightens the piece’s overall tension.

Charming, tense and highly engaging, The Cage is undoubtedly an intriguing new show to follow.