It’s an odd thing to be walking into a theatre space in a big winter coat in August, but such is the unpredictability of the weather of course, that when entering the beautiful Brighton Open Air Theatre, it’s better to be safe than sorry. And when theatre is as good as this, you soon forget anything else and become completely immersed in the story unfolding in front of you. ‘This Is My Theatre’ this time give us their version of The Great Gatsby, told in their unique branded way, filled with excellence, quirkiness, and class.
The same cast and creatives that earlier this month gave us the bright and bonkers Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland this time give us F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic yet tragic tale of love and obsession set in the roaring 1920s. We are instantly transported to the excesses of the era, the wealth and decadence on one side versus poverty and desperation on the other. The characters epitomise these traits: Jordan the heavily drinking golf professional, the wealthy Tom Buchanan who married Daisy and the nouveau riche Gatsby whose mystery creates such gossip for everyone, especially those who have never met him. On the other side is the mechanic George Wilson and his wife Myrtle, who is having an affair with Tom, and in the middle Nick Carraway is the hard working every-day man, and is the only one who maintains level headedness, managing to avoid the dramatic flares of emotion common to the others.
The story sings in this adaptation, with Nick as our link to the pieces of the story, the only one addressing the audience. The language of Fitzgerald often comes through with rich deliciousness: a treat for those who love the literature, and the passages and plot points that standout in the novel also come through. What’s also so strong is their teamwork in story telling: the precision in their moves, and you just know that they would move to the right place even with their eyes shut. It’s effortless and graceful, gorgeous staging so tight it could be choreography, yet with flexibility within for expression. They are so generous with their performances, allowing and helping each other to shine individually as well as part of their team. It’s a joy to watch such cohesiveness.
What also stands out in this production is the acting: they bring each of the characters to life completely and with lovely added details even when they (often literally) jump in and out of different roles. Lily Smith is such a delicate and light Daisy Buchanan yet grungy and earthy George Wilson by a change in physicality and voice, as they all do, moving between characters with clarity and speed. Jack Prince is both Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan: with one he has audience support to be with Daisy, but not the other: this is an extraordinary achievement as one actor. We watch the chemistry between Daisy and Gatsby, which isn’t there between Daisy and Tom, yet they are the same actors, but it just doesn’t feel like it. Similarly, Polly Jones is both the tragic Myrtle who we feel sorry for, and the alcohol swilling Jordan who we don’t. We feel Niall McDaid’s bewilderment as Nick Carraway, caught up in the net of these huge characters who swirl around him in a style all of their own.
This is a serious tale yet this troupe also add welcome humour to the way they tell it, sometimes in the stylised way they show the emotional attachments, but mostly the team themselves. They allow the set ups in a self deprecating way which never takes away from the seriousness of the story they are telling, while adding their unique story-telling style to melting pot. The flow of the scene changes is as ever a joy to watch and hear their a cappella singing while they do it, as well as the multi-use of props and set. Boxes become cars simply by using goblets on their sides as headlights, tiny cars are immediately accepted as real cars in the story. Their jumping in and out of Gatsby and Tom using scarf and jacket with cap often holding the items without a person being in them is so clever as well as funny.
Nobody does theatre like ‘This Is My Theatre’: they have such effortless skill in what they do to the absolute highest standard. They are simply a joy to watch, whatever they turn their hand to: a skilled and talented complete package, always adding surprising elements, always entertaining, and never dipping in energy.
Brighton Open Air Theatre, 29 August 2026
The Great Gatsby tour until 13 September 2026 here
Photos credit: Ethan Taylor
