The Syndicate was a family affair long before it blast onto the box in 2012 with a host of famous faces amongst the cast.
Written and produced by “titan of TV” Kay Mellor, her daughter Gaynor Faye was the series script editor.
“I just knew that it was going to be a hit because she captured the brothers, the family, the whole arena of what winning the lottery and such a substantial amount of money brings people – both good and the not so good!
“My mum writes for people, not accolades. The people who watch her shows, those are the people she relates to, the people she champions and admires. She encapsulates them and shows what it is to be a normal every day person. At times it’s funny, at times its dramatic, or moving, but the key thing is that everyone can see themselves in her characters and that’s why people love her work.”
With a cast including stars like Timothy Spall and Joanna Page, The Syndicate was a huge hit when it aired on BBC One and went on to enjoy success with three more series. The first series has now been adapted for the stage by Kay in what was her final venture into theatre before her untimely death last year. She had already asked Gaynor to co-direct the project with her, and now the actress is going it alone in a move that she confesses has been rather daunting.
Gaynor says: “Mum’s shoes are big ones to fill, but I understand what her vision was for this production because I have been by her side from the very beginning. I’m excited for everyone to see it.”
The Syndicate tells the story of five supermarket workers whose lottery syndicate numbers come in just as their jobs and livelihoods are under threat.
Will a share of the jackpot make their dreams come true or their nightmares a reality?
One thing’s for certain, the win of a lifetime will change the lives, loves and relationships of the syndicate members forever.
Such is the success of Kay’s writing that her stories have become a hit on the stage as well as the screen with the hugely successful stage adaptions Fat Friends – The Musical and Band of Gold, which, like The Syndicate, were also collaborations between Kay’s company Rollem and theatre producer, Josh Andrews.
For actors Samantha Giles, Brooke Vincent and Max George the chance to work on a Kay Mellor production was too good an opportunity to miss.
Brooke, who became a household name playing Sophie Webster in the ITV soap Coronation Street from 2004 to 2019, says landing the role of Amy was a real thrill: “I’ve kind of taken a step back to have my two boys so this is my return to acting and I’m so excited. I love Kay’s work, it’s so real and there’s such a sense of warm northern humour that I just adore.”
Meanwhile Samantha was looking for a new challenge after recently leaving her hugely successful role as Bernice Blackstock in Emmerdale, where she entertained fans on and off over the last 26 years. Talking about her role as kind-hearted worker Denise, the 52-year-old says: “A lot of people are only used to seeing me as Bernice, who is this glamorous person and Denise is the polar opposite! She’s a bit on the frumpy side, life hasn’t been so good to her, she’s just totally different to Bernice which is so lovely to play. I think Kay’s writing is so good, she’s able to create real stories and wonderful characters that people can relate to and reflect how ordinary people live.”
Samantha and Brooke are veterans of drama having navigated the fast pace of soap-land for years, so taking to the stage in front of a live audience should be a walk in the park.
Mum-of-two Brooke, 31 laughs: “No, of course I’ll be nervous! But the way I deal with it is just to think there’s no point worrying now, I need to just wait until I’m on stage and then be nervous and face the fear anyway! It’s that sense that you’re in a team, you all have a part to play to bring the show to life and you just need to feed off that.”
Samantha agrees: “It’s been 14 years since I’ve done a play so I am feeling nervous but I think if you weren’t nervous you might not care. Nerves are good and I think the more we do it, the more confident we get. I just think you can’t beat live theatre. Just to hear the reaction from the audience and have that shared experience, there’s nothing like it. And there’s a bond between everyone on the stage, everyone needs to do their part and we look after each other. That’s what I love about a play like this.”
Their admission of nerves will come as welcome relief to their co-star Max who is making his theatre debut.
Having spent the last 15 years touring the world with boyband The Wanted, in 2014 he turned his hand to acting after landing a role in the smash hit American series Glee. Max, 35, got to show off his singing skills so when he turned his attention to theatre, most would expect him to take on a musical. But the singer-turned-actor says he’s determined to show a different side to him and admits auditioning for the role of Jamie pushed him out of his comfort zone.
He says: “Kay is a titan of TV and creates the most authentic and relatable characters. As soon as I knew about this play I wanted to be a part of it. I think people might expect me to do a musical for my first theatre role but I really wanted something that was going to test me as an actor.” I really wanted to challenge myself and I feel like a play like this is so exposing as an actor, as you have to bring both humour and drama and it was just something I really wanted to do.”
So what was it about playing Jamie that appealed to him so much?
Max explains: “I think he’s really relatable, northern as well, so it sort of felt close to home. Jamie’s a bit of a rogue, he’s the bad boy but he’s a nice guy underneath. It kind of reminds me of what I was like when I was at school. I wasn’t a bad lad, just a little naughty! I’ve grown up a bit since then though! I also loved Jamie’s relationship with his brother in the play, it reminded me a lot of my relationship with my brother. There’s a scene where Jamie goes to him for help and that really resonated with me because growing up, my brother was always the pragmatic one I went to for advice.”
For Brooke taking on the role of Amy has been a delight: “She’s more Rosie Webster than Sophie Webster! I’ve never played a dolly bird before, she even comes out with hair extensions! I’m such a tom boy in real life so that’s been great to take on because usually when you read a role you can see yourself in the character, but I loved that Amy is so different to me. I’ve never played a character like this before.”
Samantha adds: “Denise is quite mumsy at the start, always putting everybody else before herself and it’s interesting to see the change that happens during the course of the play, especially when she gets her hands on the money!”
The appeal of The Syndicate is that there won’t be a theatregoer anywhere in the UK who hasn’t dreamt of winning the lottery, how they would react if their numbers came up and, of course, what they would spend their winnings on.
For Gaynor it’s easy: “I’d love to open a Buddhist centre in Yorkshire. They have them in London but we need somewhere for people to go in Yorkshire!”
Meanwhile Brooke dreams of “buying a giant house with my girlfriends and moving everyone in, but now with all the kids I’m not sure that would be a great idea!”
But Samantha is more philosophical: “I know this might sound really glib but I have everything I need, I’ve got a roof over my head, food on the table and everyone is healthy. I’m not into designer clothes and things like that. But I suppose if I won the lottery I’d buy a place abroad. But this play is a reminder to be careful what you wish for. With money comes greed and then a sense of desperation about what you’re willing to do to keep it.”
The Syndicate tours the length of the UK, visiting many of the UK’s top venues including Kay and Gaynor’s home town of Leeds, Richmond, Norwich, Newcastle, New Brighton, Salford, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Sheffield, Shrewsbury, Hull, Glasgow, Birmingham Bradford and Cardiff.
For theatre newcomer Max it’s a daunting schedule, but luckily he’s had someone experienced to turn to for advice, his partner Maisie Smith. The former EastEnders actress joined Strictly professional Kevin Clifton for the Strictly Ballroom UK Tour, so she knows all too well the pressure of performing in towns across the country.
Max says: “Will I be nervous? I’m probably more nervous doing this than singing in arenas. It feels like when you can see people in the audience, it becomes real, it’s intense! Maisie’s obviously been through all this so she’s been amazing helping me learn my lines. When she was on tour I travelled around with her a lot but that was mainly because we were renovating our house. Now it’s all done I think she’ll want to stay at home with our dog! It’ll be a challenge to be away from her for so long but it’s work, she understands it better than anyone.”
For Brooke it’s not the workload that worries her, it’s how she’s going to juggle her home life with sons Mexx, four, and Monroe, two, who she shares with husband-to-be, West Bromwich Albion footballer Kean Bryan, 26.
“I’ve no idea!” she laughs. “You might well see two extra faces on stage with me one night! Many of the shows are not too far from home so I will try and go back as much as possible, like in Leeds, I should be able to be home to take the kids to nursery and then get to work.It’s very different from my days at Corrie when I’d walk in, go get my hair and make-up done, someone would hand me my clothes and I’d pop on set. It’s completely different but that’s also why I’m so excited for it.”
The Syndicate will play at Richmond Theatre from the 11th to the 13th April before continuing its tour.