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| Abbey Hansen as Daisy Buchanan in "The Great Gatsby" |
THE GREAT
GATSBY – BIG LIVE – Canberra Theatre.
Artistic
Director and Choreographer: Joel Burke –
Executive Director: Khalid Tarabay
Associate Choreographer:
Charmaine Paddick
Ballet
Coaches -Paul Knobloch, Kohei Iwamoro
Set Design by Ben Hambling - Lighting Design
by Steven May & Ben Hambling
Costume
Design by Sophia Drakos – Special Effects by Harri Thorne
Props and
Staging by Jennifer Burke
Canberra
Theatre April 8th – 12th, 2026 – Reviewed by BILL
STEPHENS
The Male Ensemble in "The Great Gatsby
Having seen
every one of the ballet presentations offered by BIG LIVE since it began
presenting its Ballet Galas in the Canberra Theatre, it has been fascinating to
watch the growth of this company.
In 2021
entertainment lawyer, Khalid Tarabay and dancer, Joel Burke identified a
perceived gap in the dance market. Convinced that ballet should be open and
inclusive they hatched a bold plan to create a commercial ballet company that wouldn’t
rely on government funding, but would
provide stable, long-term employment for talented Australian performers by
challenging public perceptions of the art form by presenting commercially
viable, audience-focused productions that are respectful of tradition but adapted to contemporary audiences.
Canberra
audiences became aware of BIG LIVE in 2024 when it presented its production of
“The Nutcracker” for two performances in December of that year. It returned in August
2025 with the International Ballet Gala, then again in October 2025 with its
production of “Dracula” and again in November 2025 with its refurbished
production of “The Nutcracker”.
Such has
been the success of those presentations that Canberra audiences appear to have
taken the company to their hearts. The entire season of six performances of “The
Great Gatsby” were virtually sold out prior to the production opening in the
Canberra Theatre.
It’s a
well-deserved acclamation, because “The Great Gatsby” is a stunning demonstration
of the success of company founders’ strategy as well as a compelling production
that can rightfully be described as ‘of international standard’.
Since its
publication in 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, set in the American jazz-age,
with its themes of wealth, love and the American Dream told through the story
of Jay Gatsby and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, has been the inspiration for
numerous adaptations in film, theatre, musicals, even burlesque.
However,
you don’t need to have read the novel to enjoy Joel Burke’s balletic
interpretation. Burke’s storytelling is crystal clear through-out, aided in
part by a masterstroke of including an attractive voice-over intoning illuminating
excerpts from Fitzgerald’s novel throughout the ballet.
This device
frees the dancers from the exaggerated gestures of traditional ballet mime,
allowing them to offer more naturalistic and nuanced interpretations of their character’s
thoughts and emotions.
Another reason
for the production’s success is the maturation of Burke’s skills as a choreographer.
Joel Burke is a fine actor/dancer,
evidenced in his performance in this ballet, as Tom Buchanan, the cuckolded
husband of Daisy Buchanan.
In addition
to Burke’s roles as Founder, Artistic Director and principal dancer for the
company, he has choreographed all of BIG LIVE’S productions. Initially his choreography for BIG LIVE’s productions
of “The Nutcracker” and “Romeo & Juliet” was based on that of the original choreographers,
enhanced by choreographic interpolations devised by Burke.
For his
first original ballet, “Dracula”, much of his choreography was sometimes repetitive, and
his storytelling unclear.
But for “The
Great Gatsby” he has hit his straps with inspired choreography that is spectacular,
confident, and continually interesting, drawing inspiration from ragtime, vaudeville,
even burlesque, but always respecting the balletic tradition.
Watch the
inventiveness with which he interprets the decadence of a wild 1920’s party, or
the eroticism of Gatsby and Daisy’s sexual encounter. Always balletic as well
as tasteful.
His staging
of the climatic encounter during which Daisy is forced to choose between Gatsby
and her husband Tom, is masterful and thrilling, as is his staging of the scene
in which Myrtle Wilson is rundown by a car driven by Gatsby.
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| Mia Zanardo as Myrtle Wilson in "The Great Gatsby" |
Another
reason for the success of this production is the thrilling ensemble work. Obviously,
each member of the ensemble has been encouraged to create an individual
character. A feature of Burke’s choreographic style is his mastery of
inventive, intricate lifts.
These are superbly executed by Abbey Hansen and Ervin Zagidullin as Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby in several gorgeous pas de deux. But there are also many spectacular large-scale ensemble sections in this production, many of these involving similar lifts performed in unison by the ensemble.
Ervin Zagidullin (Jay Gatsby) - Abbey Hansen (Daisy Buchanan) in "The Great Gatsby"
The ability
of the ensemble to maintain character while confidently executing Burke’s demanding
choreography and lifts, in perfect unison and with admirable attention to
detail, is not only thrilling but also a tribute to the work of ballet coaches
Paul Knobloch and Kohei Iwamoro.
As the company’s
principal ballerina, in all of BIG LIVE”S productions, Abbey Hansen has always impressed
with her dance skills. However, her performance as Daisy Buchanan in “The Great
Gatsby” elevates her to a new level; that of a true ballerina of international
standard.
A wonderfully
flexible back, beautiful arms, and an ability to lose herself in the role,
while confidently executing demanding choreography and acrobatic lifts, while
drawing on her dramatic skills to tear at the hearts of her audience with unexpected
nuances as a woman torn between impossible choices, combine to make her
performance absolutely memorable.
The
combination of Hansen’s captivating performance with that of the virtuosic
dance skills and compelling presence of charismatic Russian dancer, Ervin Zagidullin, now principal
dancer with BIG LIVE, as Jay Gatsby, resulted in several breathtaking sequences
during the performance.
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| Ervin Zagidullin as Jay Gatsby in "The Great Gatsby" |
One particularly
memorable one being the extraordinary moment when Zagidullin exited a series of
dazzling spins to accept a proffered drink exactly on the climaxing note of the
music, drawing audible gasps from the audience.
Among other
memorable features of this production was the particularly appealing recorded
score devised by Jason Fernandez and Dominic Cabusi, which combined well-loved
classical pieces with snippets of bluesy jazz music, music by Gershwin, the
Charleston, and even the Can Can, enhanced by four on-stage musicians; as well
as the impressive art deco settings by Ben Hambling, and the witty, glitzy costumes
designed by Sophia Drakos.
Those familiar
with the J.Scott Fitzgerald novel may find themselves captivated by how closely
the ballet sticks to the events in the novel, especially details such as Gatsby
raining expensive shirts on Daisy during their passionate encounter.
Dance
enthusiasts will be thrilled by the beautifully detailed dancing, while those
who’ve just tagged along for the experience might be surprised at how absorbed they
become by the story.
No matter what it is that draws you to this production, don’t miss this opportunity to experience a truly memorable ballet experience.
Photos supplied.
