Gary Wilmot, the 71-year-old entertainer known for his work in panto, musicals, and television, has written a new play titled While They Were Waiting, now premiering in London at Upstairs at the Gatehouse. The comedy centres on two men waiting together, one calm and one restless, a premise that has drawn comparisons to Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. Wilmot admits he had never seen the Beckett classic until after his play was commissioned, and when he did, he found it baffling. 'I thought, “There’s a reason I’ve never seen this. I haven’t got a clue what’s going on,”' he said.
Wilmot left school at 15, barely able to read or write, and worked as a scaffolder and forklift driver. His career in showbusiness began after a friend encouraged him to contact a theatrical agent. He took impressionist lessons for £5 an hour and started performing. Success on the TV talent show New Faces in the late 1970s launched him into the public eye, leading to roles as a children's TV presenter, variety show host, and later a star of musical theatre. He has appeared in productions such as Me and My Girl and the Olivier-winning Anything Goes.
Despite his long career, Wilmot says he lacked ambition until about 10 years ago. 'I wasn’t ambitious until I was 60!' he said, describing himself as a natural 'shapeshifter' who always seeks new opportunities. He has written two previous plays staged in his village hall in Tring, Hertfordshire, including one about a man who believes he is a horse. Wilmot also recalled a workshop for Paddington the Musical, where he played a character he felt was unnecessary and told producers so, leading to the role being cut. 'It’s about entertainment, not ego,' he explained.
