WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE SHOW?
Michael: Well, it's about two young, plucky, upcoming actors David and Michael. We play ourselves. The premise is that we were going to be doing a play together. Then lockdown happened and the director of the play, Simon, who also plays himself, wants to try and keep things going whilst we're in lockdown and puts forward the idea that we can rehearse using video calls. Then when lockdown finishes we'll be ready to go into a theatre before anyone else. That idea goes down better with David than it does with me. The rest of the episodes are about how that plays itself out.
WAS IT GOOD TO WORK TOGETHER AGAIN?
Michael: Absolutely! I mean, that's the main reason why we wanted to do it in the first place – to do something together again. Having never really worked together before Good Omens, it was such a pleasure to be able to do that – to discover that there was a good chemistry between us.
David: 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.
YOUR PARTNERS – DAVID'S WIFE GEORGIA AND MICHAEL'S PARTNER ANNA – STAR TOO. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH THEM?
Michael: It's interesting that we're all playing ourselves, really, or versions of ourselves. So it is sort of odd to be doing scenes with your partner when it's a different version of yourself and your partner. Our little baby, Lyra, is eight months old. She doesn't appear in it but you can hear her in the background now and again, which is great.
David: It was odd filming with my wife in our own kitchen pretending to be a (slightly) pathetic version of myself. But I have to say I loved it. I may never leave the house again.
HOW WAS DOING YOUR OWN HAIR AND MAKE-UP?
Michael: I can't speak for David – I don't know how much make-up he's putting on, or how much he's doing his hair. I mean our hair is getting longer as it's gone along. So it does require a bit more sorting out as time goes along but no, no hair and make-up this end.
David: I have a hairstyle left over from the job I was in the middle of before everything got shut down, I've got half extensions in my hair which are beginning to fall out and I haven't really shaved in weeks. Helpfully a lack of vanity suits the situation.
HOW WAS FILMING WITH KIDS AND FAMILIES AROUND?
David: The kids found it all a bit annoying, I think. There are a couple of out-takes where one of the children would wander in and ask for a snack, but mostly they were pretty disinterested.
Michael: My partner is in it playing herself so that makes it sort of easier, although it is quite difficult. If we're both in a scene together then there's no-one to look after the baby, so it does get a bit complicated.
WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON VIDEO CALLS?
David: They are an amazing thing. What opportunities they give us in this weird weird time. They are not without frustrations and limitations. But we wouldn't have been able to make this without them and I feel like our family home is much less locked down than it would be without them.
Michael: Well, they've been a blessing on this because they've allowed us to do it in the first place. So, I'm all for them, and long may they continue!
:: Staged is available on BBC iPlayer.
