Actor Gethin Anthony is part of the distinguished cast for the audio drama, Minister of Chance. Anthony takes a few moments to talk to us about his role as Sutu in this exciting series.
Slice of SciFi: How did you become interested in The Minister of Chance?
Gethin Anthony: I met Clare Eden who is the Exec Producer at Radio Static whilst at LAMDA. She represents The John Thaw Foundation, who kindly subsidised my training at drama school. She was kind enough to see my showcase productions at the end of my course and subsequently introduced me to Dan Freeman who created The Minister of Chance. They showed me some of the scripts and I was blown away. The world Dan created was so complete and fascinating and full of really interesting characters. I was very keen to audition and they were kind enough to let me do that, and that’s how I got involved.
Slice of SciFi: Can you tell us a bit more about your role in the series?
Gethin Anthony: Sutu is an intriguing fellow who Kitty meets on her travels. Its a credit to Dan’s writing that if I tell you too much about his character then it’ll ruin the story; basically it’s fair to say that in the Minister of Chance Universe all is not what it seems.
Slice of SciFi: What was it like working with a cast that includes several icons from classic British television series?
Gethin Anthony: That’s an easy one… Amazing. I had a fantastic time learning from Julian and playing around in the scenes, which is a perfect experience for an actor. Dan made it so easy to explore and find exciting moments in the scenes, and I was able to observe Julian up close and gain a lot by doing so. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of working with more experienced actors, it’s like training with Federer, you can only get better. Also Lauren was wonderful to work with. I think her Kitty is a delightful and intriguing young woman.
Slice of SciFi: How is working on The Minister of Chance different from other audio projects you’ve participated in?
Gethin Anthony: There was something really exciting about knowing that the world that was going to be created around you, through soundscapes etc, was going to be massive. I think the ambition and imagination that Dan has fed into creating the Minister’s Universe made working within it a unique experience. And it makes perfect sense! Audio drama has such huge potential for creating all manner of extraordinary worlds, or rather suggesting them to an audience through sound which they then create in their own imagination. Working on this reminded me of that great quote about radio: A young boy once said to his father, “I prefer radio to television, the pictures are better”
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?
Gethin Anthony: Well, I think there are several advantages for the audience. The main one being that if they like it every purchase has a direct impact on Radio Static’s ability to continue making the show. It empowers the audience in the sense that if you like something you can get more of it by tuning in. In this instance there is very little muddying the relationship between storyteller and listener, and that can be productive. Also the power of communication tools such as Twitter and Facebook means that the audience can respond very directly to the people making the series.
Slice of SciFi: What’s the best way to support the series?
Gethin Anthony: The simplest way is to go to http://www.ministerofchance.com/ and start exploring the Minister’s Universe. Listen to the Prologue (free on iTunes), and if you want to be swept away on an intriguing adventure download the episodes on iTunes or from our site. It would also really be great if people who enjoy the series share their excitement via Twitter, Facebook, and by commenting on iTunes etc. With an independent production like this we really do rely on the enthusiasm of those who enjoy it to spread the word.
Slice of SciFi: Where else can fans see you?
Gethin Anthony: I’m in Game of Thrones at the moment which is airing on Sky Atlantic on Monday nights at 9pm. For the uninitiated it’s a fantastic fantasy series adapted from the hugely popular novels of George R.R. Martin. The simplest way of describing it is Lord of the Rings crossed with The Sopranos… Its gritty, and lead by human conflict, so I must advise that its not exactly suitable for younger viewers.
You can find The Minister of Chance HERE. You can view a free prologue to the series and the first two episodes are now available for purchase and download
Leave a Reply