The Great Gatsby - Derby Theatre Review

Reviewed by Beth

Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.

Celebrating 50 years of the glorious Derby Theatre, Sarah Brigham and Elizabeth Newman’s latest

Made in Derby production The Great Gatsby hits the stage this October, bringing a new reimagining of the century-old classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Given the success of the recent West End transfer of the show’s musical sibling as well as the book’s hundred year birthday, now feels like the perfect time to retell a tale of class, seduction and hope. But does this production capture the true dichotomy of the opulence and heartache of the roaring twenties? This reviewer is left wondering just that.

Photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

For those unfamiliar with the classic tale of glitz and glamour, our story is framed through the reflections of writer Nick Carraway, an outsider of the West Egg world moving to the area to pursue a more standard occupation. He moves in next door to the elusive Jay Gatsby, an enigma of a man who throws elaborate parties whilst hiding behind the crowds and his huge mansion house. Carraway reflects on his introduction to such a society with party after party and more questions than answers. We are also introduced to Carraway’s cousin Daisy and macho, aggressive husband Tom Buchanan. Jordan Baker, a friend of Daisy’s, also meets Carraway where a flirtatious love affair develops, Daisy quickly thrilling about the possibility of their marriage. Jay Gatsby himself does not appear until a good while into Act One, building the suspense and mystery around the protagonist, but when he does, we learn that he is an ex-lover of Daisy’s and has built an entire empire all for the simple hope of winning back his true love.  As the pair meet again for the first time, illicit affairs and dodgy dealings are uncovered which prove that the innocent happiness Gatsby has longed for may not be achievable after all, being replaced with a far more tragic and sinister ending.

David Rankine gives a solid performance as Nick Carraway, gripping the audience’s attention from the beginning. He is charming and artistic and serves as a good framing device for the story’s events. The Plaza Hotel scene of Act Two was a particular favourite scene of mine, in which Rankine plays an utterly uncomfortable Nick with wonderful nuance and humour. This is contrasted with his very serious reflections at the play’s conclusion where the story’s themes and message are delivered.

Oraine Johnson is our Jay Gatsby. Whilst Johnson had a good stage presence, friendly face and some super dance moves, I was expecting to see more of a character shift between the charismatic, overconfident ‘Mr Gatsby’ and his unravelling when he is finally reunited with Daisy. Compared with other interpretations, I found Johnson’s portrayal to be quite laid back which perhaps made his downfall somewhat less impactful. However despite this, his chemistry with Rankine was great and their scenes together were a particular highlight. 

Fiona Wood played Daisy as a quite erratic and unsettled character. I didn’t feel that her love for Gatsby was as all-consuming as Jay’s was and that meant her conflict between staying with status with Tom and fleeing with her true love Gatsby didn’t quite hit in the same way it did in the original source material. However she did show a sweet side, showing the vulnerability and naivety of the character.

Photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

Tyler Collins’ Tom Buchanan was a particular stand-out performance for me. He was the character you love to hate, a misogynist and a perfect depiction of the contradictions of love and societal pressure, of male and female expectations, and of old and new money. Again, the plaza hotel scene truly showed Collins’ talents; his Tom was sinister and infuriating in every way he should be.

Some of the edits of the story for script were choices that left me a little puzzled. The roles of Myrtle and Wilson, played very strongly by Celeste Collier and Louis Newman, seemed somewhat diminished from the original story, removing some of the heartache and shock factor of the end of the show. Similarly, Jordan Baker - a character often well known for going against the grain and refusing to accept what society expects of her - felt a little two-dimensional, but not because of the performance of April Nerissa Hudson who showed skill with the material she was given. I appreciate that in adaptation material must be cut, but felt that other adaptations of the past have given more time to explore the impactful meaning that these characters bring to the story and its message.

The staging of the show also brought with it some interesting choices. The thinly veiled white curtain, which seemed to serve as a metaphor for the hidden lives versus lives on show of our main characters, did provide a couple of stand-out moments (particularly for Nick and Jordan during a fireworks scene) however I did find its constant opening and closing somewhat distracting. I’d have preferred a set with a little more opulence; huge marble pillars and a library full of books were mentioned however these were not seen on stage. For a play all about over consumption, I’d have preferred a set that was less minimalistic. We were, however, transported back in time to the twenties through historically accurate costuming and some fantastic jazz music. The two dance numbers were a really fun addition and took you right back to the roaring twenties. The singing of the show was particularly strong and some of the song choices lent themselves to supporting the story well. The addition of the famous Green Light throughout the show was well thought out.

The Great Gatsby is a fantastic work of fiction serving important messages that transcend the context of their publication. It is a story that explores societal pressure and prejudice as well as the motivating power but at times futility of hope. It reminds us that looks can be deceiving and that behind a glittering façade can be castles crumbling. However, I do feel that this particular adaptation lost some of this powerful impact and left me feeling a little lack-lustre despite some strong performances.

Derby Theatre, though, is a fantastic institution of regional theatre and continues its 50th birthday celebrations throughout the year. I look forward to returning and seeing what the theatre produces next! I believe in the theatre just as Gatsby believed in the Green light. 

The Great Gatsby plays at Derby Theatre until Saturday 25th October 2025. Tickets can be found at https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/the-great-gatsby/. I would always recommend seeing the show for yourself and making up your own mind.

Photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan