Gail Young - Playwright

Aptly timed to coincide with Remembrance week, Waiting is a wartime drama that writer Gail Young has been working on for a number of years. Inspired by recollections from her own family’s experience of WWII, the story she tells cleverly encompasses a broad range of scenarios and emotions, by recollecting the war years through the eyes of one extended family in Liverpool.

At the core of the story are Jessie and Peter Wright, their three children, and Peter’s mother Amy and his brother David. Soon to join this family unit is David’s fiancée and, later, wife Theresa, and they are surrounded by a close knit community of aunts, uncles and friends.

The tough but happy equilibrium of their lives which is laid out for us at the beginning is soon to be challenged with the outbreak of war and, across two hours, Young’s text succeeds in drawing together a great many diverse story elements in a manner that never feels contrived........

The story itself may well be about a family and a community who are desperately waiting for it all to be over, but this certainly isn’t a feeling that ever extends to the audience here. Sure-footed direction keeps the pace moving so that no scene or individual storyline outstays its welcome, and Young’s multi-layered script turns one family’s narrative into a sweeping portrait of a nation’s shared experience.

For the full review see 'Review – Waiting – Storyhouse Chester - Good News Liverpool

I had the pleasure of watching an outstanding piece of writing today. ‘Waiting’ written by Gail Young and directed by the award-winning Yvette Owen. This production had the audience laughing and crying, touching our hearts in so many ways. The audience was transported back in time from the moment they stepped into the Garret Theatre, the music playing and the set that decorated the stage was immersive.

The new play ‘Waiting’ follows the Wright family from Liverpool who faced challenges and devastating news in the face of a war destined to pull us apart, that only brings us closer together. The family are torn apart when the three children Tommy (Ethan Harrison), Jean (Savannah Bristow) and Shirley (Cara Sconce) are evacuated to Wales during WWII in an attempt to escape what came to be known as The Liverpool Blitz. Liverpool suffered eight days of bombing during World War II. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed in prolonged raids which targeted the docks area at England's largest western coastal port. The city became the most heavily bombed British city outside London. The story is based loosely on Gail's own family history. The prominent theme of this show was about waiting, where every character showed their own story and struggles as time passed. We watched them wait for letters from loved ones; wait for the sirens to sound and the bombs to fall; wait for children to return to their own beds, and most importantly, wait for the all clear to leave the bomb shelter so they can pick up the pieces of their fallen city left behind...........

The scouse humour was on point and made the audience laugh, staying true to the community of Liverpool. Being a born-and-bred scouser the performance really made me proud to be from Liverpool and to remember all those who lost their lives and suffered during the war..........

There were clever uses of cinematography and photography, which only enhanced the live performances from the cast. Genuine historical footage such as Neville Chamberlain’s speech and Mill Road infirmary allowed the audience to really feel part of the Wright family, as if we were all neighbours’ experiencing the Liverpool Blitz.............

Gail Young’s writing had us begging for more by leaving us on a cliff-hanger not knowing if David Wright will return home from sea and finally meet his daughter. The cast coming together to sing at the end was a beautiful testament, showcasing how in Liverpool, you never walk alone and we stand together. The cast and production team fully deserved the sell-out performances and standing novation at the end.

For the full review see 'NUMBER 9........ Reviewing The Arts UK-wide: AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: Waiting - The Storyhouse, Chester. (number9reviews.blogspot.com)