Playing it

DAVID TENNANT AND MICHAEL SHEEN

IMAGINE YOU’RE ABOUT to start rehearsals for a new West End play when lockdown is announced and everyone is placed on furlough…

That’s the premise of new six-part comedy Staged, starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen, which follows the two stars as they try to keep rehearsals on track during the current shutdown.

Filmed entirely within their own homes using video conferencing technology, Staged also features cameos from Tennant and Sheen’s families, as well as other actors, including Last Tango in Halifax’s Nina Sosanya.

We caught up with the two friends to find out more…

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT

THE SHOW?

SHEEN: It’s about two young, plucky, upcoming actors David and Michael. The premise is that we were going to be doing a play together, then lockdown happened and the director of the play, Simon

Evans, who also plays himself, wants to keep things going while we’re in lockdown and suggests rehearsals using video calls. TENNANT: Funnily enough, they’re also locked in their houses with their respective partners Georgia and Anna, who happen to be not unlike our partners Georgia Tennant and Anna Lundberg…

YOU BOTH STARRED IN AMAZON PRIME VIDEO’S Good Omens LAST YEAR. DID YOU ENJOY WORKING WITH EACH OTHER AGAIN?

TENNANT: Last time I worked with Michael I had to wear tight trousers and snake-eye contact lenses, and fly halfway round the world. This time I tumbled out of bed, put on a tracksuit and barely brushed my hair. It was a total joy from start to finish.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH THE REST OF THE CAST?

SHEEN: Well, we’re both playing versions of ourselves and working with our other halves, which is interesting. Anna and I have a baby daughter, Lyra, who is eight months old. She doesn’t appear in Staged, but you can hear her in the background, which is great.