The Great Gatsby

A Derby Theatre and Pitlochry Festival Theatre Co-Production The Great Gatsby is a captivating and visually striking theatrical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic 1925 novel, brought to life in a major co-production between Derby Theatre and Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Adapted for the stage by Elizabeth Newman and directed by Sarah Brigham, the production premiered in 2025, marking the 100th anniversary of the novel's original publication. Set against the glamorous backdrop of America's Roaring Twenties, the production transports audiences to the summer of 1922, an era defined by extravagant parties, dazzling wealth, jazz music and dramatic social change. Beneath the glamour, however, lies a powerful and ultimately tragic exploration of love, ambition, obsession, betrayal and the pursuit of the American Dream. The story follows Nick Carraway, a young man who moves to Long Island and becomes fascinated by his mysterious and extraordinarily wealthy neighbour, Jay Gatsby. Known for hosting lavish parties attended by New York's fashionable elite, Gatsby appears to possess everything money can buy. Yet behind his extravagant lifestyle lies a desperate longing to reunite with Daisy Buchanan, the woman he fell in love with years earlier. As Nick becomes increasingly involved in Gatsby's world, he discovers the complicated relationships, secrets and social divisions that lie beneath the surface of high society. Gatsby's determination to reclaim his past with Daisy brings him into conflict with her wealthy and unfaithful husband, Tom Buchanan, setting in motion a chain of events that ultimately leads to tragedy. This bold adaptation combines powerful storytelling with live music performed by a talented company of actor-musicians, capturing the excitement and energy of the Jazz Age while exploring the darker realities of wealth, privilege and social ambition. Under Sarah Brigham's direction, the production blends dramatic performances, period-inspired costumes, atmospheric lighting, music and theatrical staging to create an engaging interpretation of Fitzgerald's literary masterpiece. The contrast between Gatsby's glittering world of luxury and the emotional turmoil beneath it reinforces the central themes of illusion, identity and the dangers of pursuing an unattainable dream. The production opened at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Scotland on 27 June 2025, running until 25 September, before transferring to Derby Theatre from 3 to 25 October 2025 as part of Derby Theatre's 50th anniversary autumn season. The Great Gatsby offers audiences a moving theatrical experience that celebrates the beauty and excitement of the 1920s while revealing the heartbreak, corruption and disillusionment hidden beneath its glamorous exterior.