On the evening of Apr. 24 (local time), the London Coliseum—the largest venue in London’s West End with a capacity of approximately 2,400 seats—was filled to the rafters. As the final scene of The Great Gatsby concluded and the stage lights dimmed, the audience, spanning all four floors, rose in a standing ovation. It marked a pivotal moment for South Korean production company OD Company and its CEO and producer Shin Chun-soo, as the musical successfully launched in London, widely regarded as one of the twin capitals of global theater alongside New York City.
Jeong Jae-eun, a producer with the Arts Council Korea currently on study leave in London, attended the performance and remarked, “British audiences are known for being reserved and rarely give standing ovations. But seeing them rise and cheer so naturally filled me with emotion.”
Since beginning its preview performances on Apr. 11, the musical has sold out every show. Following its Broadway debut last April, the production drew more than 600,000 attendees across over 400 performances and generated revenue exceeding $68 million. It also made history by becoming the first South Korean-produced musical to win a Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical.
Building on its New York success, expectations were high for the London premiere. In the hours leading up to opening night, police managed traffic around the theater near Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, as celebrities walked the red carpet to cheers and camera flashes.
Among the notable attendees were broadcaster Anneka Rice, actress Jessica Henwick of Knives Out, actor Iwan Rheon of Game of Thrones fame, and Tom Fletcher, lead vocalist of McFly—all well-known figures with substantial online followings. The celebrations continued at the ballroom of Raffles London, a popular venue among the city’s trendsetters, with more than 800 guests in attendance.
First published in 1925, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) is widely regarded as a cornerstone of American literature, capturing the materialism, moral decay, and disillusionment of the Jazz Age through vivid symbolism and lyrical prose.
The musical adaptation dazzles audiences with extravagant portrayals of Gatsby’s lavish parties while framing the characters’ romantic entanglements through a contemporary romantic-comedy lens. Featuring big band-style jazz music, elaborate set designs and costumes, and choreography that once sparked a dance challenge craze, the production delivers a visually rich and emotionally charged experience. Act II builds toward an intense climax, staying faithful to the themes of the original novel.
While some critics have been less enthusiastic—the Times and The Independent each awarded it two stars, while The Guardian gave it one—audience reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. As of 9 a.m. on Apr. 27 (local time), 93% of 353 respondents on Show-Score.com rated the production favorably.
At a press conference the following day, director Marc Bruni, composer Jason Howland, choreographer Dominique Kelley, and lead actor Jamie Muscato, who portrays Gatsby, were in attendance. Muscato was recently named a finalist for Best Actor at the Laurence Olivier Awards, the highest honor in British theater.
Reflecting on the production’s journey, Shin said during the musical’s Broadway opening, “An unfulfilled sense of emptiness is what drives me.” Speaking on the new milestone, he added with a laugh, “Perhaps that emptiness we call a dream is something that will never be fulfilled. If so, it becomes the very foundation upon which I continue to take on new challenges through musicals.”
The Great Gatsby is scheduled to open in July at GS Arts Center in Seoul’s Yeoksam-dong, with casting now in its final stages. Following its performances in New York and London, the production is poised to continue its global journey.
