Also stars Steve Furst
British stage and screen star Gary Wilmot is set to premiere his debut play While They Were Waiting in London.
While They Were Waiting is running at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in London, from 26 February to 22 March 2026.
Written by and starring Gary Wilmot (Me and My Girl, The Wizard of Oz, Something Rotten!) as Bix, the play also stars acclaimed actor and comedian Steve Furst (Little Britain, My Fair Lady, Lenny Beige) as Mulberry.
Drawing inspiration from one of life’s most universal experiences – waiting – While They Were Waiting is billed as a sharply funny, profoundly human exploration of what happens in the moments between events, and why those pauses matter.
The story follows no-nonsense loner Mulberry, who has turned “waiting” into a personal pastime. Taking place in a mysterious waiting room, he is unexpectedly joined by curious simpleton, Bix.
What begins as an inconvenience soon becomes a thought-provoking journey as the two men forge a deep — and hilariously unlikely — friendship through a series of witty, surreal, and increasingly bizarre encounters.
Gary Wilmot said in a statement: “I first got the idea for While They Were Waiting seven years ago. I was sharing a dressing room at the National Theatre with actor Steve Furst. We were at the technical stage of that production which meant long periods of time just waiting to be called. I’m always looking for things to inspire new projects, and the simplicity of how we wait seemed worth exploring.”
The play is directed by Sydney Stevenson, and produced by Annlouise Butt for Chromolume (Dr Freud Will See You Now, Mrs Hitler), with Associate Producer Nikki Newman.
Currently playing at Upstairs at the Gatehouse is Stephen Schwartz’s musical Pippin, until 11 January.
While They Were Waiting is playing at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in London from 26 February to 22 March 2026.
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