Filmed in the area around Thatto Heath Library on World Mental Health Day 2018, What Are You Waiting For considers the idea of waiting and what happens or doesn’t happen in public spaces.

A set of belts have crowd control barriers attached to them that can be worn by a group of performers in a public space, forming barriers that affect how people move through that space.

What will they be waiting for?
What are you waiting for?

Waiting… for a bus, for a train, at the post office counter, for a letter, for someone to call.
Waiting… to board a plane.
Waiting…in the passport queue to be stared at suspiciously.
Waiting… for someone to check your documents, for someone to make a decision, to be reunited with family members.
Waiting… to be in a safe place, for it to be safe to go home.
Waiting… to learn, to be able to work, to contribute.
Waiting… for the baby to go to sleep, for time to be me, for space to think.

Launching to coincide with World Mental Health Day 2020, What Are You Waiting For has been created as part of the award-winning Cultural Hubs programme funded by Arts Council England and delivered by St Helens Borough Council’s Library Service, which is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

Filmed and edited by Julieann O’Malley

With thanks to performers, R Ainsworth, T Howson, S Littler, P Mangan, J McConnell, K Pilkington, G Ridehalgh, A Wilkinson.

Performed in 2018, Film released 2020.