The new mini-series ‘Public Property’ explores the line between a public service job and the right to a private life. Will Beck, who plays long-serving medic Dylan Keigh talks about his role in the upcoming year ahead ..
What can viewers expect this new series?
The first thing that comes to mind is chaos, it’s a real roller coaster ride. I think particularly for Jodie, it’s a real opportunity for people to get to know her. I think the thing that this box set does, is it goes to an emotional depth. Dylan strangely enough gets caught up in it because of the correlation between the situation that Jodie finds herself in.
Dylan remains charismatic, focused, strong, loyal – this season we see his vulnerable, considered and caring side. Do you think he sees himself as a father figure to Jodie?
I think he recognises characteristics from Jodie from his own mum. He recognises something he cares about and that he needs to utilise some of his experience and some of those childhood regrets that we all have, those things that children grow up unfortunately blaming themselves for. I think the boy in him just would rather that she made a better go of things.
What have been your highlights from Dylan’s storylines in recent years?
Storylines in which Dylan has acted as either a lightning rod, an antagonist or a love interest occasionally – have had impact. There’s one episode in this box set which really focuses on Dylan’s response to the situation with Jodie and things that go beyond that, and those episodes are always so much fun to do. You get to drive the narrative a little bit more. Whenever one gets the opportunity to do that, it’s always a privilege to be a part of. The opportunities you get into in this particular environment, on this particular show and with this type of reach and the reputation it has is amazing. Working with Sharon Gless was something that was a bit of a pinch me moment.
Each and every storyline you are conscious that you’re dealing with something that is sensitive ground for so many people and not just for the people watching but for people that they’ve had to support. You just have to try and tell the story of your own character and hope that it rings bells for other people. There’s a sense of pleasure looking back but there is also a sense of responsibility. The best story is always the next one.
Dylan’s relationship with Sophia is a bit of a roller coaster – do you think Dylan surprises himself?
This an interesting one because the relationship with Sophia is authentically complex in the fact that it’s very difficult to read. They are presented with a moment which they both have to try and confront, and Dylan has to go through some self-examination…
We will be seeing a softer side to Dylan in the new series?
Dylan is actually so soft. The exterior can be a little bit gruff, lacking in airs and graces. Anybody that remembers episodes with Dylan’s dad will understand where that might have come from. I think his bedside manner has improved a lot, and in these episodes he’s demonstrating care. My feeling is that perhaps he’s somebody who cares to a fault. I think that the wonderful thing is on a show like this is that you get a chance to explore all of it.
Are you proud of the way that Casualty covers social issues sensitively?
It’s certainly something that I’m pleased to say is a bull that we take by the horns. It can be a real quandary to know how to sometimes take storylines that are so relatively commonplace in people’s experience. We will all know somebody, who’s been touched by each of the conditions that we that we alight on and each of the social situations that we might contextualise within drama. It’s obviously a different thing from documentary and the way in which you surf each particular wave ideally should bring each of those important issues to light. I think that’s where the show is brave and is direct about focusing on some of those issues..
I think we do make some remarkable television, for example, and I don’t mean to be obvious, but the episode that we produced immediately after COVID.
What can we look forward to next from Dylan?
It’s difficult to know where, if I were a story-liner, I might go next – but the funny thing about life is that it continues to be interesting, and events continue to occur that one doesn’t expect. For Dylan I think his heart was hardened over the last five or six years by various events and it would be absolutely fascinating to see what happened if that protective case around him was dropped, if that totally shatters. Anything that puts Dylan at the centre of the action is always stuff that I relish because I find out what he’s like, as the audience do.
