A huge cast, massive set-pieces, so many props, almost too much costume to manage, dancing, singing, and on-stage crew, all to realise Miss Proops’ and Mr Edwards’ vision for bringing a snapshot of the 1920s to the stage.
From the first read-through, it was clear how ambitious this undertaking was going to be, but we also saw how marvellous it might be if we could pull it off. We started rehearsals by picking apart the show into its individual components, with actors rehearsing intense scenes of dialogue, while the dancers were busy choreographing and rehearsing – sometimes in the same rehearsal. As the show dates drew closer, the magnitude of the task at hand started to seem daunting, and it seemed difficult to conceive how all these moving parts could possibly slot together. However, the most memorable experience was the moment that everything came together, and everyone could finally see the vision before them.
Performance highlights go to Finn as Jay Gatsby, Eleanor as Daisy Buchanan, Sushant as Nick Carraway, and Theo as Tom Buchanan. However, this production had a unique spin upon which the characters of the book are characters within an in-universe film, giving the play a unique sense of identity and accessibility to a modern audience. The film crew featured were Freya as the director, Libby as the 1st AD, and George as the designer.
Ultimately, the show was an amazing experience to be a part of and a very satisfying creative process.
Hasan (Divs)
