Set in a Liverpool casino, the world of The Cage is one of high tension and even higher stakes – especially when co-workers Leanne (Sheridan Smith) and Matty (Michael Socha) realise that they’ve both been robbing to make ends meet.
Once they figure out that they’re both doing what they can to try and better their own personal lives, things start to take a sinister turn as it becomes all too apparent that the stolen money leads to run-ins with a local gangster and the police.
At just five episodes, the BBC series comes from The Responder’s Tony Schumacher so we can expect plenty of edge-of-your-seat action, and like Schumacher’s first TV drama, The Cage is similarly filmed in his home city.
Read on to find out just where The Cage was filmed, including insights from the cast and crew.
Where is The Cage filmed?
The Cage was filmed on location in and around Liverpool and Merseyside.
In terms of specific locations used, filming took place in Tockholes (as per The Bolton News), Liverpool City Centre, Baltic Triangle, Sefton Park and along the Liverpool Waterfront.
Series creator Tony Schumacher told the BBC of his decision to film on location: “The show is set in Liverpool because Liverpool is one of the greatest cities in the world. It used to irk me that Liverpool had become a bit of a set, as opposed to a location.
“It’d become a backdrop for New York, for London, Birmingham. That’s amazing because it brings loads of jobs, but I like the idea of shining the light on the city itself. We’ve got some incredible talent here, in front and behind the cameras, and it’s just giving them an opportunity to work in the fields that they grew up in.
“It looks beautiful – Al Mackay who directed has got such a cinematic eye. It’s great that Liverpool isn’t having to put on a false nose and a pair of glasses. It can be itself. And that’s why I wanted it to be in Liverpool.”
Director Al Mackay also said of the filming locations: “Liverpool was such a good place to film. Being by the sea with the big blue skies gave the show a big part of its appearance. Being by the River Mersey plays into the story – Matty’s past is heavily linked to the Mersey and his house overlooks it which gives an incredible sense of place. Liverpool has a very cinematic feel.”
Speaking to Radio Times and other press during a roundtable chat, series star Sheridan Smith shared of her filming experience: “I love Liverpool, I’ve done a few jobs there now. I just love the city, it’s my favourite city to film in and obviously Tony’s a proper scouser, everyone knows him there and loves him.”
Barry Sloane, who plays Gary in the series, also said of filming in his home city: “It brings an enormous sense of pride and it brings it brings joy to my heart. I absolutely loved it. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time not only living in London, but lived in Los Angeles for a long time as well. So I think when you move away from your home city, it means even more so to go back and film in the places – in the city centre where I used to go out.
“As soon as this guy [Gary] came into my inbox in the script, I knew him. I knew this fella, I’ve seen him around town, I think one or two of them have been my landlord at certain points – I can’t confirm, but I’m sure. It was just amazing. It was the most beautiful period of sunshine that we had when we filmed the whole series, and Liverpool in the sunshine is just golden. So, yeah, just scouse pride right the way through.”
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The Cage starts Sunday 26 April at 9pm on BBC One, and will be available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer.
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