Creature London and The Department for Opportunities enlists actors Michael Socha, Jo Hartley and Jonathan Hyde on hard-hitting film

The Department for Opportunities – the Social Mobility Foundation’s advocacy and campaigning arm – has launched its second campaign to raise awareness of the Class Pay Gap.

Following on from the success of last year’s Class Polish campaign, which used comedian, Fern Brady to highlight the ridiculous of classism in the workplace, this year’s campaign takes a more sinister turn. Once again partnering with Creature London, the Department for Opportunities has created a short Horror Film starring Michael Socha (This is England, Being Human, Chernobyl), Jo Hartley (This is England, Eddie the Eagle, After Life) and Jonathan Hyde (Titanic, Jumanji, The Queen).

Directed by Thomas James [and shot by Adam Barnett] and produced by OB Management, Stay Down is set in a typical corporate office. In it we see our working-class hero (Michael Socha) doing everything expected of him, yet still having to navigate constant subversive discrimination. Including from his elitist boss, superbly played by screen legend Jonathan Hyde. The film dramatises the insidious, unseen nature of classism as a sinister presence, striving to hold him down physically, and mentally, while strangely sparing others around him – who are therefore able to continue on and succeed, due to that privilege. It’s a disturbingly surreal yet ultimately recognisable story, wrapped up as a seemingly real upcoming blockbuster – complete with a stunning cast.

Read more here.