The Guild of Misrule and Immersive Everywhere’s critically acclaimed THE GREAT GATSBY, created and directed by Alexander Wright – which had previously set a record as the UK’s longest running immersive production – is planning to re-open at West End venue IMMERSIVE | LDN on Thursday 1 October 2020.
As with all UK theatres and productions, the show was forced to close down in March, due to the Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent UK shutdown.
Olivier Award winning producers Louis Hartshorn and Brian Hook have re-imagined and re-set the production as an Art Deco Masquerade Ball, with audience members wearing compulsory face coverings to complement their fabulous attire.
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; and the nature of the show means that audience members can choose where they stand and move throughout the performance, naturally enabling social distancing. The show content is being altered and updated to avoid any activity that would be considered high risk, and the actors will be further trained to keep groups of audience following the story, whilst remaining at a safe distance.
Amongst other measures to ensure full compliance with government Covid-Secure guidelines, temperature checks will be undertaken for audience and staff on arrival. The venue will be deep cleaned before and after every performance, bar equipment sterilised, and hand sanitisers will be available throughout the venue.
The Producers of THE GREAT GATSBY are confident that smaller-scale immersive productions are inherently suited to social distancing measures and will be able to open safely in that time frame, complying with the expected government guidelines on mass gatherings, social distancing and good hygiene practices. The hope is that the immersive nature of THE GREAT GATSBY might enable it to be the first long running show to responsibly re-open in 2020.
The Producers are also planning for the eventuality that the show can’t proceed, or individual patrons can’t attend, and are offering a no-questions-asked exchange policy.
Amie Burns Walker and Oliver Tilney are Associate Directors. Choreography is 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.
