Gatsby at The Green Light | Caper & Crow

All images: Daniel Boud

Presented by Brisbane Festival in association with Blackbird Brisbane and Twelfth Night Theatre, Gatsby at The Green Light invites audiences into a decadent world of 1920s glamour and 2020s spectacle. Brimming with classic Gatsby indulgence and theatrical excess, the show delivers a night of cabaret in a club named after the symbol of Gatsby’s elusive desire: The Green Light.

The show takes the form of a party that never stops moving, hosted by the lovelorn Gatsby himself, who keeps a watchful eye over the festivities. A contemporary soundtrack pulses beneath a series of back-to-back music, dance, circus, aerial, and burlesque acts, each designed to keep the energy in constant motion.

These acts were impressively executed. From the outset, the dance ensemble—dressed as bar and waitstaff—drove the energy in the room, moving seamlessly between bar service and expertly choreographed dance routines. Daniela Del Mar performed a mesmerising hair hanging act, demonstrating incredible strength and grace, and Green Light bartender Florian Vandemeulebroucke’s juggling acts were a lot of fun, blending undeniable skill with playful charm. Maître d’ Bettie Bombshell delivered one of the most memorable acts of the night: a fire-eating striptease crackling with danger and sensuality.

All images: Daniel Boud

Those seated at cabaret tables were immersed in the action and became as much a part of the party as the performers themselves. Throughout the show, the dance ensemble weaved between tables, serving drinks, flirting, bantering, and dancing with audience members, and this intimate relationship between performer and audience created some standout moments on the night I attended—including one where an audience member quite literally ate out of a performer’s hand.

However, the stalls seating felt notably detached from this action. Even though I was seated in the front row of the stalls, I often felt as though I was an observer watching someone else’s immersive experience, rather than sharing in it. Most of the action and attention was directed towards the cabaret tables, and while it’s understandable that cabaret seating comes at a premium price for a reason, the difference between the two experiences was difficult to overlook—and may have contributed to the slightly subdued energy I felt in the room.

Because while the performers brought great vitality and a wealth of talent, the audience response didn’t always rise to match. Cabaret thrives on hype—on cheers, whistles, laughter, and unrestrained participation—but at times the audience seemed reserved. This may have been due to the fact that I attended on a Tuesday night, or perhaps was an unfortunate side effect of the uneven distribution of performer-audience interaction, but this muted audience response undeniably dampened the overall atmosphere, leaving the performers to work harder to build and sustain energy during their acts.

Still, Gatsby at the Green Light succeeds in creating moments of glittering theatricality. While the level of energy and engagement experienced may depend on where you’re seated, the performers’ passion and artistry make the show sparkle. Gatsby at The Green Light may not have felt like the wildest of parties for me, but it’s certainly a party worth attending.

Gatsby at The Green Light plays at Twelfth Night Theatre until Sunday 28th of September 2025.