Brisbane review - The Great Gatsby: roars magnificently to life
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
by David Wilson The Geat Gatsby
Based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Adapted by Daniel Evans and Nelle Lee
Directed by Daniel Evans and Nick Skubij
Set and Costume Designer Christina Smith
Movement Director and Choreographer Nerida Matthaei
Composer and Sound Designer Guy Webster
Presented by Queensland Theatre Company and Shake & Stir Theatre Co
Tickets are on sale now, ranging from $79 to $139. Season runs 12 February – 8 March 2026 at the Playhouse, QPAC
Published in 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is now considered one of the greatest American novels ever written. Yet it was not initially a commercial success. Fitzgerald died in 1940 believing he had failed, only for the novel to find its audience posthumously and eventually secure its place firmly within the literary canon. Its enduring appeal has seen numerous adaptations, including Baz Luhrmann’s lavish 2013 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby. Now, more than a century after its Jazz Age setting, the story beats on — and in the hands of Queensland Theatre Company and Shake & Stir Theatre Co, it roars magnificently to life.‘Without doubt, the collaboration between Queensland Theatre and Shake & Stir has elevated The Great Gatsby to heights unachievable by either company alone. The result is — without question — the best stage production I have seen. The chemistry between the two companies is palpable, and what emerges is a production of extraordinary ambition, polish and theatrical imagination. The creative team has delivered a bold and visually arresting adaptation that captures both the glamour and the fragility of Fitzgerald’s world. The staging is unique and utterly captivating. Through inventive design choices and seamless technical execution, the creatives somehow manage to convey the sheer scale and grandeur of a Gatsby party within the confines of the Playhouse stage. The spectacle is dazzling — yet never hollow. Beneath the champagne and spectacle lies emotional weight, and that balance is masterfully achieved. The wonderful shifting of pace throughout, and the balance between the intimate moments and the feeling of being at an event was masterful.Christina Smith’s set and costume design is nothing short of extraordinary, conjuring a Jazz Age of hedonism and excess while also exposing the artifice beneath it. Trent Suidgeest’s lighting design and Guy Webster’s scintillating soundtrack work in perfect harmony to shift effortlessly between glittering celebration and quiet tragedy. The choreography by Nerida Matthaei injects kinetic energy throughout, giving the ensemble an athleticism and fluidity that sustains momentum across the production’s considerable running timMuch like the collaboration between Queensland Theatre Company and Shake & Stir itself, the individual performers were first class — collectively magnificent.Ryan Hodson anchors the production as Nick Carraway, the novel’s reflective and understated narrator. Hodson brings clarity and control to the role, guiding the audience through this fever dream of memory and illusion with assurance and nuance. His performance provides the emotional spine of the production and masterfully sets the pace of the production.Shiv Palekar delivers a compelling Jay Gatsby — enigmatic, charismatic and quietly vulnerable. Palekar captures the duality of Gatsby beautifully: the self-made man of boundless optimism and the lonely dreamer reaching desperately for a past he cannot reclaim. His scenes opposite Jess Vickers’ Daisy Buchanan are charged with longing and fragilityJess Vickers is luminous as Daisy, perfectly balancing charm, beauty and underlying restlessness. Vickers ensures Daisy is far more than an object of desire; she is complex, conflicted and deeply human.While in many ways The Great Gatsby is a character-driven work centred around Nick and Gatsby, in this particular production the character of Tom Buchanan feels even more central — due in no small part to the absolutely incredible performance of Jeremiah Wray. Tom is wealthy, entitled, physically imposing and morally compromised; a man accustomed to power and unchallenged dominance, driven by jealousy and insecurity masked as authority. Wray takes these traits and amplifies them to extraordinary effect. His Tom is magnetic and terrifying in equal measure. Wray’s commanding physicality and vocal control create a presence that dominates every scene he enters. It is a performance of immense strength and precision, elevating the character to new dramatic heights.The supporting ensemble deserves enormous praise. Libby Munro’s dry and perceptive Jordan Baker, Ethan Lwin’s quietly desperate George Wilson, Nelle Lee’s emotionally raw Myrtle Wilson, and Donné Ngabo’s charismatic Meyer Wolfsheim all contribute richly textured performances. The ensemble work throughout is seamless, with multiple role transitions handled effortlessly and with impressive stamina. Special mention also to Loren Hunter as Catherine and Mint Julep, who’s haunting vocals further elevated this magnificent production.This is theatre on a grand scale — ambitious, visually stunning and emotionally resonant. It honours Fitzgerald’s exploration of wealth, class, desire and the elusive American Dream while presenting it with contemporary immediacy and theatrical daring. Absolutely wonderful.Queensland Theatre Company and Shake & Stir Theatre Co have created something truly exceptional. This production does not merely adapt a classic — it redefines it for a modern audience. I thoroughly encourage you to see it.
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