A Green Light for The Great Gatsby
The party of the century is now roaring on at the London Coliseum with The Great Gatsby!
This dazzling new musical, transferring from Broadway, reimagines F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel during the glittering summer of 1922. We follow the lovable and charming Nick Carraway as he moves to New York and settles into a modest cottage in West Egg. There, he meets his enigmatic and extravagant neighbour, Jay Gatsby, famed for throwing legendary parties. Gatsby enlists Nick’s help in reconnecting with his former love—Nick’s cousin, the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. But since their last encounter (and the end of the war), Daisy has married the arrogant and brutish Tom Buchanan, who’s conducting an affair of his own.
As Nick is drawn into a world of wealth, secrets, and longing, he also finds unexpected romance with the sharp-witted Jordan Baker. Yet beneath the sparkle and champagne, the disillusionment of the American Dream casts a dark shadow—and not everyone gets their happy ending.
When the cast was first announced, it was nicknamed “Avengers Assemble” for good reason. This production stars West End powerhouses: Jamie Muscato as Gatsby, Frances Mayli McCann as Daisy, Amber Davies as Jordan, Rachel Tucker as Myrtle, and Joel Montague as George Wilson—alongside Corbin Bleu (yes, High School Musical royalty), making a strong and charming West End debut as Nick Carraway.
Corbin Bleu is utterly endearing as narrator Nick—so much so, it feels like he deserves the final bow. Jamie Muscato brings a charismatic vulnerability to Gatsby, allowing us to truly feel the weight of his longing. His comedic timing shines in “Only Tea,” but it’s the soaring emotion of “The Past Is Catching Up to Me” that cements his star power. Frances Mayli McCann offers a beautiful and emotionally nuanced Daisy. Amber Davies shines as the confident and independent Jordan, with her rendition of “New Money” bringing the house down. Rachel Tucker, though underutilised in the smaller role of Myrtle, is magnetic—especially in her powerhouse 11 o’clock number, “One Way Road.” Joel Montague delivers a quietly devastating performance as the overlooked and broken George.
At first glance, this might seem like a big, glitzy party musical—but at its heart, it’s the entanglement of these six characters that drives the emotional depth and eventual tragedy. In a theatre as vast as the Coliseum, that intimacy sometimes gets lost. The large ensemble numbers occasionally struggle to fill the space with the necessary energy, and a more intimate venue might have allowed for greater connection while still delivering the spectacle.
That said, the scenic and projection design by Paul Tate DePoo III is truly spectacular. Where people couldn’t quite fill the stage, the visuals certainly did—through clever use of props and immersive projection, audiences are whisked between the decadence of West and East Egg, the glitz of Manhattan, and the bleakness of the Valley of Ashes. The costumes by Linda Cho are equally stunning, perfectly capturing the era while subtly communicating each character’s social class and inner world.
The soundtrack has been on repeat since I first attended a preview, and I felt like a guest at one of Gatsby’s own parties on opening night—bathed in glamour, nostalgia, and just a hint of tragedy. It certainly won’t be my last visit. With its blend of razzle-dazzle and raw emotion, The Great Gatsby is more than a glittering spectacle—it’s a haunting reminder that not all dreams survive to see the morning light. It is the perfect mix of glitz and grit. Catch it at the London Coliseum before the green light fades—playing until September 2025.
Book tickets here.
★★★★★
