Review: Gamble

Hannah Walker | Photo by Christa Holka

At the heart of Hannah Walker’s Gamble is a worthy message about the pervasive influence of the gambling industry and the harrowing effect of addiction on those who fall prey to it and their families. It’s a message communicated in flashes of great writing and fleeting vignettes, but otherwise somewhat obscured by a disjointed structure and lack of depth. 

The performances are accomplished, and Walker anchors the production ably. The writing, particularly when it comes to the central story of a young woman – based on Walker herself – and a partner addicted to gambling, is at times moving and effective in building tension. But it’s not given enough room to breathe, the narrative juxtaposed with video, song and dance elements which raise a laugh and effectively mimic the flashy, glittering character of casinos and betting websites but don’t add much else to the story. 

While it feels like they could have been edited and integrated more effectively into the production, the real testimonies of those affected by gambling and an NHS expert are compelling and are the closest the show comes to really diving deeply into the issues at hand and moving its audience. Gamble doesn’t consistently hit its stride but in these elements, and when the writing is at its strongest, it raises important issues and is commendable in its ambitions.