REVIEW - THE GREAT GATSBY - IMMERSIVE LDN -

Head to Mayfair – I mean, West Egg, New York – for a big, fun, intimate party you’ll never forget.

The Great Gatsby immersive experience is an adaptation of the play and is directed by Alexander Wright. It is produced by Louis Hartshorn and Brian Hook. Upon entering the venue, you are immediately transported to 1920s America – even the bartenders speak in an American accent. Rosy Rosenthal (played by Ivy Corbin) greeted us and gave us the lay of the land. We were then shown into the huge main room, which includes a stage with a piano, a picturesque platform where Gatsby sometimes stands, and the bar.

The show starts from the perspective of Nick Carraway. He introduces himself and sets the scene: one of Gatsby’s famous parties. The music then loudens, the characters run to the middle of the room to dance, and the party begins. Thrillingly, the characters encourage the audience to dance as well, teaching them how to do the Charleston. This made me feel genuinely immersed in the show and set my expectations high. The rest of the performance did not disappoint.

The beauty of The Great Gatsby is you can experience something different each time you go. This is because you are pulled into different rooms by different characters. (Be sure to stand on the outer edges of the main room so you get pulled into the side rooms.) You get an intimate piece of the story in each room while also returning to the main room for the main parts of the story. Even if you haven’t seen or read The Great Gatsby, it is set up in a way where you can still enjoy and understand the show.

The stellar cast includes all the main characters from the novel. While I didn’t spend much time in the main room where Gatsby stayed, the little of Elliot Liburd I did see captured the charm and charisma Gatsby is so well-known for. Safeena Ladha was brilliant as Daisy Buchanan – happy and bubbly but hiding a deep sadness not far underneath her smile. The night I went Euan Wilson, who usually plays the role of Joey, stepped in as Tom Buchanan. Wilson was true to his character – harsh, loud, and unbending, sometimes making me flinch with his aggressiveness. Steve McCourt, plays George Wilson, and was angelic on the piano, giving a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching performance when his wife was killed. Sophia Lewis, who usually plays Lucille, took over the role of Jordan Baker. Lewis was absolutely hilarious and seemed to be born for playing the role of Jordan Baker. Greg Fossard took over the role of Nick Carraway, and I immediately trusted him to take us through the story. He excellently encapsulated Carraway’s endearing naivety and willingness to help. While every actor shined, Aimee Barrett was dazzling as Myrtle Wilson. She had a natural 1920s-esque demeanor, making me wonder if she just time-traveled every night from 7:00-9:30. She was completely at ease interacting with the audience, even inviting me to dance with her.

The Great Gatsby is the best immersive theatre I’ve experienced. You have plenty of time to see it as it’s currently booking until October, but I encourage you to don your fringe dress and dance the Charleston all the way to this awesome show!

{🎟 AD: PR Invite – Tickets gifted in exchange for an honest review}

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Seen in June 2022, with the Cast Including; Elliot Liburd (Jay Gatsby), Safeena Ladha (Daisy Buchanan), Hugh Stubbins (Nick Carraway), Steve McCourt (George Wilson), Jessica Hern (Jordan Baker), Alex Wingfield (Tom Buchanan), Aimee Barrett (Myrtle Wilson), Greg Fossard (Rosy Rosenthal), Sophia Lewis (Lucille), and Euan Wilson (Joey).