CHESTER PLAYWRIGHT SHOWCASES WW2 BLITZ DRAMA AS PART OF "VIRTUAL SEASON"

A leading Chester based Playwright has showcased her latest play as part of a popular series of virtual events currently being staged by a local theatre company.

Gail Young whose published plays include "Cheshire Cats", "Bothered and Bewildered" and "Bouncing Back" was delighted to be asked to workshop part of the stage version of her first full length screenplay "Waiting" as part of the ongoing "Lockdown Season" of virtual events being presented by Chester and Wrexham based theatre company Tip Top Productions. 

The company staged a live read-through of Act 1 of the new play to a virtual audience via Zoom, directed by Tip Top member Phil Cross, followed by Gail taking part in a Q&A session with the audience and cast members afterwards. 

Set in Liverpool during WW2 "Waiting" tells the story of a Carter and his family during the Blitz which saw the city endure some of the worst bombing of the War. The inspiration for the play came from Gail's grandfather who worked as a Carter on the docks throughout WW2, and also from the magnificent full-size bronze statue of a shire horse called 'Waiting', created by Judy Boyt, which now stands at the Albert Dock. The statue, erected following a 10-year long fund-raising campaign, honours the city’s hard-working dock horses and carters that worked in the city for 250 years and who played an integral part in keeping supply lines open during the petrol-rationed days of World War II.

Gail said "In 1935, Liverpool had 4,910 working horses, the second highest number outside London. By 1960 they had mostly been replaced by vehicles. The play follows the trials and tribulations of the Wright family during the Liverpool Blitz and the war years, and pays tribute to this period of Liverpool's rich history. My hope is that it will act as a reminder of how much the city owes to the stoical work of the Carters and their horses during WW2."

Speaking about developing the play, Gail said "I've been working on "Waiting" for quite a while. Lockdown has given me plenty of quiet time to write and reflect, but it has deprived me of the opportunity to hear the play read aloud which, when you are writing a performance piece, is a definite disadvantage. 

Tip Top came to the rescue by including a public reading of Act 1 as part of their lockdown season, and pulling together a wonderful cast for the reading. Big thanks too to all those who participated in the zoom Q&A session afterwards. It's been a massive help in taking the play forwards." 

Gail whose Netball themed play "Bouncing Back" was staged at Storyhouse in Chester and at The Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool last year to celebrate the staging of the Netball World Cup is currently working on writing Act 2 of "Waiting" ready for a similar online event in October.

Phil Cross, who directed the read-through of "Waiting" for Tip Top Productions said "We are so lucky to have a local writer like Gail who has entrusted us with her new work to showcase for the first time in front of an online audience. It was an exciting event with 8 local actors taking part and over 50 audience members watching online, all from the safety of their living rooms.

In the absence of being able to create live theatre at the Forum Studio Theatre in Chester city centre, we have loved creating our programme of Lockdown online events, providing something for everyone, from new writing to dance workshops.

It's been a lovely opportunity to see our friends and audience members from Tip Top's past and present but have also welcomed a new audience who have discovered Tip Top during Lockdown. We are always on the look-out to make new connections and friends. The doors may be physically closed but we are most certainly still a welcoming community theatre!"

Tip Top Productions Lockdown Season continues, with new events being added including open mic nights, dance workshops, quiz nights and play readings. All events take place via Zoom. For full details including how to sign up, go to www.chestertheatre.co.uk