Lavishly produced and beautifully choreographed, The Great Gatsby roars to life as a thoroughly entertaining ballet. 

Another leap forward by relatively new company BIG Live, The Great Gatsby sees a confidence in scale and a depth of artistic achievement that some more established companies might struggle to reach. Starting with their annual BIG (Ballet International Gala) events, the company has moved into full length narrative works, with Dracula (2025) a recent standout. 

The vision and drive of co-founders Khalid Tarabay and Joel Burke has seen BIG Live grow to employ multiple dancers and take their productions not just around Australia but also to New Zealand, Singapore, and London.  Artistic director Burke also serves as choreographer and principal artist, creating the choreography for this world premiere ballet of The Great Gatsby and starring as Tom Buchanan. 

Subtitled A Jazz Ballet Odyssey, this incarnation of revered F. Scott Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby is an intriguing blend of dance and storytelling. While there are strong classical underpinnings to Burke’s choreography, the company dance sequences veer closer to a sense of musical theatre, making this work an ideal introduction for musical theatre fans who may have not ventured into ballet. Pre-recorded narration, in the voice of Nick Carraway, further bridges the divide between pure ballet and narrative theatre. 

Burke has crafted a series of stirring pas de deux for Gatsby and Daisy, the centrepiece of which is their passionate reunion at the climax of act one. A later bedroom pas de deux conveys pure sensuality. 

At the heart of Burke’s creation is the dramatic tension of a late steamy afternoon at Tom’s Manhattan apartment, in which jealousy and rage flare between Gatsby, Daisy, and her husband Tom, all set to wonderfully evocative Gershwin piano music. 

Burke stages a thrilling climax for the drama, in which the body of Myrtle, mistress of Tom, is literally flung into the air after being struck by the car. 

Ensemble choreography is a clear attraction of the work. A palpable sense of enjoyment emanates from the stage as the ensemble dance their big routines. Burke’s work is seen at its best, with the ensemble tightly drilled and working in crisp unison. 

Large portions of the mostly pre-recorded score feature familiar melodies, again creating an easy sense of enjoyment for new audiences. Composed by Jason Fernandez and Dominic Cabusi, the sequences of original music blend seamlessly with the classics, adding a heightened sense of drama when required. Six musicians play some of the music live, appearing on stage for the first decadent party at Gatsby’s estate. 

Much as the selection and composition of the music for the score is a true success, the appreciation of the music is impeded by the overly high volume used for most of the performance. As well as being uncomfortably loud, the music often overpowers the narration, which really needs to be heard clearly. Hopefully a more conducive balance will be found as the season progresses. 

Ideally housed in the gorgeous art deco auditorium of Her Majesty’s Theatre, the 1920s set design of Ben Hambling looks utterly fabulous. A series of art deco arches frame the stage, with a huge full-size LCD screen at the rear displaying the impressibly detailed work of motion graphics designer Craig Decker. The crisp lighting design of Steven May expertly complements the visual appeal. 

Equally lavish is the costume design of Sophia Drakos, with jewel-toned dresses and smart suits deftly fitted to allow the dancers freedom of movement. Principal costumes are cleverly designed to convey character and deftly support the storytelling. Meanwhile, the ensemble members sport new costumes every time they step on stage, all perfectly suited to the style of elegant parties or underworld bar scenes. 

Ervin Zagidullin successfully captures the sense of the unknowable recluse Gatsby, man of hidden passions. Abbey Hansen delights as the initial carefree Daisy, bringing out her long-term love for Gatsby as the story unfolds. 

Burke brings whirling energy to self-centred playboy, Tom Buchanan. Emilia Bignami brings radiant exuberance to the vivacious Myrtle.

Easily accessible and terrifically entertaining, The Great Gatsby is highly recommended for ballet and musical theatre fans alike. 

The Great Gatsby plays at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne until 5 April 2026. For tickets, click here.

The Great Gatsby plays at Canberra Theatre Centre 8-12 April 2026. For tickets, click here.

The Great Gatsby plays at CPAC Theatre, Cairns 16-19 April 2026. For tickets, click here.

The Great Gatsby plays at Crown Theatre, Perth 25-26 July 2026. For tickets, click here.

The Great Gatsby plays at Civic Theatre, Newcastle 22-23 August 2026. For tickets, click here.

The Great Gatsby plays at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide 2-6 September 2026. For tickets, click here.

Photos: Sam Tabone