“GATSBY”: A REVIEW

Written by Jim Grant, based upon the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald Directed by Mark Beverley & Jim Grant Performed by the Sevenoaks School Theatre Company

A triumph combining a tight script, excellent stage-design and unanimously stellar performances spanning numerous year-groups – the Sevenoaks School Theatre Company’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel perfectly encapsulates the thrills and excesses of the roaring twenties in two hours of sheer delight.

Many school productions infamously bite off more than they can chew in terms of transitioning an ambitious script onto the stage – however, this is a pitfall thankfully avoided here, as the Sackville Theatre was beautifully transformed into a sprawling yet intimate window into the action. The technical aspects of the production were similarly impressive as ever, from the prop-work to the lighting and sound-design – providing a strong sense of polish from start to finish.

An impressive and diverse roster of acting talent was on full display, with particularly memorable performances from Fred McGahan, Charlie Bailey, Louis Dunn, PJ Birt, Tito Adetunji, Emilia Wood, Tabitha Bolter, Phoebe Critchlow, Fenella Hodges and numerous others in the ensemble cast. Whilst not witnessed first- hand by myself, the upper sixth cast

“Gatsby” proved to be a wonderful return-to-form for the Sevenoaks School Theatre Company following the lockdown period in which live performances were unfeasible – and was a fantastically fun production; the enthusiasm from the cast and crew seeping through from start-to-finish. Initially, it seemed a curious decision to remove “Great” from the title of the source material – however, it became immediately apparent from the moment the stage-lights rose that the “Great”-ness was indeed not left absent from this production.

reviewed by Charles FitzGerald, L6

7PM 11-14 OCTOBER 7:30PM 15 OCTOBER SACKVILLE THEATRE

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“it became immediately apparent from the moment the stage-lights rose that the ‘Great’-ness was indeed not left absent from this production”

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