The Great Gatsby - world premiere this Saturday

THE GREAT GATSBY

THE GREAT GATSBY, one of the Twentieth Century’s most celebrated novels, is given new life in a uniquely theatrical adaptation in its world première at The Court Theatre.

Accomplished NZ playwright Ken Duncum approached Artistic Director Ross Gumbley in 2007 with an idea to adapt F Scott Fitzgerald’s story of power, wealth and temptation for the stage. Gumbley immediately saw the potential in the project and The Court Theatre commissioned Duncum for the project.

“As a novel, THE GREAT GATSBY is almost perfect,” says Gumbley, no stranger to adapting written works for the stage himself, “Ken’s script gives the story a real theatricality. Even in the first workshop we could see the piece was going to be stunning theatre.”

“The thing is to be truthful not accurate,” Duncum adds, “I am respectful of Fitzgerald as an artist, but he wasn't writing a play. My hope is for people to be able to access the story in the most immediate way possible. Fitzgerald was still in his twenties when he wrote this novel and no one saw it coming. It's bloody fantastic, but I'm not trying to write a novel. I'm trying to present the book in a new way on stage.”

Set in New York in the early 1920s, Fitzgerald’s novel follows the journey of Nick Carraway into a world of wealth and indulgence through an association with his mysterious neighbour Jay Gatsby. As Nick is drawn deeper into Gatsby’s world, he is caught up in a story of love, longing and loss.

After a series of workshops and rehearsal process, Gumbley describes THE GREAT GATSBY as “a magic trick – everything that is on stage at the beginning of the play is used to create the story”. The cast (seven actors and a musician playing piano, clarinet and saxophone) never leave the stage; as Gumbley puts it “the story is brought to life almost as a party game by the ghosts of Gatsby’s mansion.”

THE GREAT GATSBY debuts on July 25th and runs until August 22nd as part of the Christchurch Arts Festival.

THE GREAT GATSBY
Based on the novel by F. Scott FItzgerald Adapted by Ken Duncum

Directed by: Ross Gumbley
Venue: Court One, The Court Theatre, Christchurch
Cast: Phil Brown, Michael Hallows, Claire Dougan, Amy Straker, Jon Pheloung, Sandra Rasmussen, Tim Bartlett, Jennie Gough
Production Dates: 25 July – 22 August 2009
Performances: 6pm Monday / Thursday; 7:30pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (no show Sundays).
2pm matinee Saturday 1 August
Tickets: Adults $42, Senior Citizens $35, Tertiary Students $25, School Children $15, Group discount (20+) $33, Matinee (1 Aug) $29
Bookings: The Court Theatre, 20 Worcester Boulevard; 963 0870 or www.courttheatre.org.nz

ENDS

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