Actress Lauren Crace has worked on several high profile British television series over the years. She was part of the cast of East Enders and was featured in last year’s Sherlock.
Crace is part of the ensemble team working on the new radiophonic drama series The Minister of Chance. Using a combination of radio and film techniques, this new six part series is delivered by podcast.
Cracce took a few minutes to sit down and discuss his role in the new series with Slice of SciFi.
Slice of SciFi: How did you become interested your role as Kitty in The Minister of Chance?
Laure Crace: I was contacted by Dan Freeman the writer/director in early 2010 and was sent a copy of the script. I was initially a little dubious about having to read an entire sci-fi script as I’m more of a ‘kitchen sink drama’ girl myself, but I absolutely loved it! I was immediately hooked by the storyline and found myself laughing out loud. It’s full of great characters – that’s what drew me to it the most!
Slice of SciFi: Tell our readers about more about your role in the show.
Lauren Crace: I play Kitty, the local barmaid. She’s cocky and bolshy with a mouth like a sewer. She has absolutely no airs or graces and says whatever’s on her mind! She’s good friends with Professor Cantha and later becomes a sort of sidekick to the Minister of Chance, much to his annoyance! There is a lot more to Kitty than meets the eye.
Slice of sciFi: How is working on this project different from other works and roles you’ve done before?
Lauren Crace: I’ve never had the opportunity of doing any audio projects before, so this was my first! All I can compare it to is our radio training at drama school and luckily I enjoyed recording The Minister much more.
Slice of SciFi: What did you find interesting about working on this series. And what kind of future do you see for this type of entertainment?
Lauren Crace: What’s most interesting to me is listening to the transition from what we recorded in a very grey, lifeless studio to this incredible world that’s been created in all the post production work. If you closed your eyes you really could be listening to a big-budget Hollywood film!
Slice of SciFi: What was it like working with a cast that includes icons from other British genre series like Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann?
Lauren Crace: That’s the best thing about this job (and also the most intimidating) tha you get to work alongside such accomplished and successful actors. Yo just have to watch and learn! I didn’t get the opportunity to work with Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy or any of the ‘sci-fi world legends’ in the studio but I worked very closely with Julian Wadham, our Minister, which I loved, Although we probably did a little too much giggling!
Slice of SciFi: Fans have heard the first two episodes of the series. What can we expect (without giving too much away, of course) to happen as the series unfolds? What kind of storyline will we see for your character?
Lauren Crace: I’m afraid there’s not much I can tell you here. I haven’t read any later episodes yet and Dan Freeman is purposefully keeping his cards very close to his chest. It’s all pretty hush hush! What I can tell you, and this is honestly all I know, is that there may be a little love interest for Kitty somewhere down the line!
Slice of SciFi: Joss Whedon had success going directly to the fans to support Doctor Horrible’s Sing Along Blog. Minister of Chance is following a similar path. How does taking your product directly to your audience help a series like Minister of Chance?
Lauren Crace: The Minister of Chance is the first of it’s kind and it needs time to catch on. It’s all word of mouth. Because we’re selling it through our own website it means we can keep the prices low (at only £1.49 an episode). We hope that with the lower pricing more people will take a chance on it. And if all those people then recommend it to a friend and so on, we hope it’ll become the success it deserves to be, which will allow the series to continue!
Slice of SciFi: What’s the best way for fans to find the series and show their support?
Lauren Crace: Check out our website www.ministerofchance.com where you can download the episodes, buy merchandise, look at cast bios or if you’re feeling very generous make a donation! We also have a Minister of Chance Facebook page and Twitter account. Listen to the prologue for FREE on itunes.
Slice of SciFi: What other roles do you have coming up that our readers can look forward to?
Lauren Crace: I’m in a new 2 part BBC4 drama called Room at the Top which airs on Thursday 7th April at 9pm and again on Thursday 14th April. I’ll also be appearing in an episode of Holby City due out in May.
You can find The Minister of Chance HERE. You can view a free prologue to the series and the first episode is now available for purchase and download
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