The team behind the critically-acclaimed immersive version of The Great Gatsby will insist audience members wear face coverings and gloves as part of a re-imagined production opening this autumn.
Created and directed by Alexander Wright, the UK’s longest-running immersive production will be adapted to comply with Government Covid-secure guidelines when it re-opens at Immersive LDN in Mayfair on 1 October 2020.
By re-imagining the party-set production as an Art Deco Masquerade Ball, Olivier Award-winning producers of the show, Louis Hartshorn and Brian Hook, (Rotterdam, Murder Ballad, Urinetown, American Idiot and Madagascar – A Musical Adventure) hope audience members will embrace the concept by wearing face masks as part of their costumes.
The compulsory masks and gloves are part of a number of measures being introduced as the producers try to safely navigate the post-pandemic world. The capacity of the venue will be significantly reduced to help patrons, coming as individuals or in household groups, to keep a safe distance from others. The nature of the show allows audience members to choose where they stand and move throughout the performance enabling social distancing.
With the show’s content being altered and updated to avoid any close contact, actors will also be trained to keep audience members following the story while maintaining social distancing.
There will be temperature checks for both staff and audience members on arrival and the venue will be deep-cleaned before and after every performance, bar equipment will be sterilised and hand sanitisers will be available throughout the venue.
While the producers hope the changes will be enough to ensure the production can reopen in October, they are offering a no-questions-asked exchange policy in case the show cannot go on or in case individual ticketholders cannot attend.
Announcing the changes to the production, Hartshorn and Hook said: “We want to offer something for people to look forward to following this extended lockdown. Our show has several inherent features that make it safer than a trip to the supermarket, so we’re embracing that and innovating. Hopefully we can provide a blueprint for other productions to open safely and be part of the process of restoring employment and the economy of the creative industries.
“Naturally, public health is the highest priority of all, and this will be the driving force behind all of our decisions. We’re implementing a no-questions-asked exchange policy so that if circumstances change, whether in general or for any individual, our patrons will be fully protected. We would like to thank our landlord, Grosvenor Estates, and our producing partners and investors for their creativity, camaraderie and continued support.”
The creative team for the production includes associate directors Amie Burns Walker and Oliver Tilney with choreography by Holly Beasley-Garrigan, design by Casey Jay Andrews, costume design by Heledd Rees, sound design by Phil Grainger and lighting design by Rachel Sampley.
The original score was composed and produced by Glen Brown and Tendai Humphrey Sitima, with arrangement and additional composition by David Sims. The original production was created by Holly Beasley-Garrigan, Amie Burns Walker, Hannah Davies, Phil Grainger, Michael Lambourne, Thomas Maller and Oliver Tilney.
First conceived in 2015 when director Wright and producer Hook were running The Fleeting Arms, a pop art and community pub in an abandoned building in York, the show ran in York in 2016 with a parallel production in Sheffield.
Produced by the Guild of Misrule, The Great Gatsby first arrived in London as part of the 2017 VAULT Festival.
The new production of The Guild of Misrule’s The Great Gatsby is produced by Immersive Everywhere with co-producer Gavin Kalin Productions with Glynis Henderson Productions, Theatr Clwyd, We Culture Connects and Damier NV as associate producers.
Angela Thomas
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