The Great Gatsby | London Coliseum

Walking into the London Coliseum, you’re immediately immersed in grandeur and mystery. A striking teal-lit geometric archway frames the stage—a bold nod to the Art Deco elegance of the 1920s and ’30s. Beneath it, a haunting image of a lake with a pulsing green light hints at the use of integrated projections, setting the tone for a world where illusion and reality blur. The watery motif extends into the apron of the stage with the edge of a swimming pool, later revealed to be Gatsby’s.

Rippling gobo effects and atmospheric haze sweep into the audience, creating the uncanny sensation that we too are submerged in Gatsby’s world—a motif that will return, both visually and thematically. This isn’t a cheap, glittery musical gimmick; this is a sophisticated, high class evening in London’s West End.

Almost 100 years to the day since its first publication (10 April 1925), and a year after its New York debut, The Great Gatsby arrives in the West End in a dazzling new musical adaptation. Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel, this production tells the story of mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. Renowned for throwing lavish parties at his Long Island mansion, Gatsby remains curiously absent from his own soirées. His true desire is to reunite with his lost love, Daisy, who has since married Tom Buchanan while Gatsby was away fighting in the war. Told through the eyes of narrator Nick Carraway, a middle-class veteran chasing a career in New York, the show sweeps us into a glittering world of opulence, only to reveal the stark reality that lurks behind the glamour.

Jill Green Casting deserves full credit for assembling a stellar cast—each number proving we were in the presence of theatre royalty. While the show may bear Gatsby’s name, it’s Nick Carraway who anchors the narrative. Corbin Bleu, best known from High School Musical, has graduated into a captivating stage performer. His portrayal of Nick is warm, grounded, and surprisingly relatable. A particular highlight is his comic flair in the number The Met, where his timing and physicality were spot-on.

Frances Mayli McCann is a luminous Daisy. Her crystal-clear vocals shimmer like a sip of champagne—sweet, delicate, and slightly intoxicating. She captures both Daisy’s charm and her contradictions with nuance and grace. As Gatsby, Jamie Muscato brings an aching tenderness to the role. His Gatsby is not just enigmatic, but fragile—desperate for something he knows is already lost. His emotional depth in For Her (Reprise) is genuinely moving.

Amber Davies is perfectly cast as Jordan Baker—Daisy’s sharp-tongued friend and professional golfer. Radiating effortless cool, Davies embodies Jordan’s non-conformist spirit. Her standout number New Money is a thrilling ensemble piece, fusing Charleston flair with slick modern choreography by Dominique Kelley—no surprise it's going viral on social media.

Costume designer Linda Cho cleverly contrasts Jordan’s Hepburn-esque wide-leg trousers with Daisy’s dreamy pastels, reinforcing the character’s bold independence.

Rachel Tucker, though in the smaller role of Myrtle Wilson, delivers one of the night’s most memorable performances. Her number One-Way Road demonstrates Myrtle’s longing and resolve with dramatic finesse, raising the roof with sheer power and presence. As George Wilson, Joel Montague embodies weary aspiration with quiet strength. Though the character feels underused, Montague makes every moment count, evoking a man suffocated by circumstance.

John Owen-Jones oozes villainous charm as Meyer Wolfsheim, with the jazzy Shady cleverly punctuated by Cory Pattak’s geometric lighting design. Meanwhile, Jon Robyns delivers a magnetic performance as the loathsome Tom Buchanan—dangerous, entitled, and unflinchingly smug.

This production demands spectacle, and scenic designer Paul Tate de Poo III delivers in spades. The blend of physical set and projection is masterfully done, most notably in Nick’s cottage—where real-life set pieces and immersive visuals merge seamlessly, creating an enchanting effect.

With Kait Kerrigan’s nuanced book and Marc Bruni’s elegant direction, this musical feels less like a typical jukebox or crowd-pleaser and more like a sophisticated play enveloped in music. Themes of wealth, class, gender roles, and the illusory American Dream are skilfully woven throughout. A lingering sense of foreboding reminds us that this is not just a story of romance, but of tragedy. And yet, it’s one that promises to be a roaring success with a guaranteed ticket to the hottest party in town.

The Great Gatsby plays at the London Coliseum with a strictly limited season, ending on Sunday 7th September 2025.

★★★★★ (5*)

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Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Johan Persson