'I wrote The Cage to understand my brother's addiction'

'I wrote The Cage to understand my brother's addiction'1 day agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleRoger Johnson & Lynette HorsburghNorth WestBBC/Element PicturesMichael Socha and Sheridan Smith sparked off each other in the new crime drama The Cage, says director Al MackayThe Bafta-nominated writer of a new "high-energy crime story" about gambling has said he wanted to write about addiction to better understand his late brother's battles with alcohol.Tony Schumacher said he had the idea for The Cage, which is set in a Liverpool casino, before his hit drama The Responder, which was also filmed in the city and aired in 2022.The drama, starring Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha, focuses on two casino workers involved in a high-stakes robbery.Schumacher, of Huyton, Merseyside, said he was always trying to figure his brother out "so I'd always wanted to write something about addiction but not especially alcoholism, because it's a bit close to home".He told BBC North West Tonight his idea to do a drama on gambling was "always kicking around".Tony Schumacher said he had the idea for The Cage before his hit show The Responder"My brother, who's sadly passed away now, he was an alcoholic and I was always trying to figure him out, trying to get into his head and understand why he was the way he was," he said. "So I'd always wanted to write something about addiction, but not especially alcoholism, because it's a bit close to home and also I'm terrified of having an addictive personality."I'm addicted to work, which might be a good thing but I'm not sure it is."He added: "Gambling is such a major, major issue. It's massive and it's just a great place to start."BBC/Element PicturesTony Schumacher praised both Michael Socha and Sheridan Smith in their portrayal of Matty and Leanne in his new BBC One dramaSchumacher said it was "brilliant&q...