Derby Theatre celebrates 50 Years with a glittering fundraising gala of The Great Gatsby

Derby Theatre is set to toast its golden anniversary in style with a spectacular Fundraising Gala Performance of The Great Gatsby on Friday 10 October 2025 – an unforgettable evening of fizz, food, live music and world-class theatre celebrating 50 years of bold, inclusive theatre, storytelling, community engagement and this top-class production, currently playing at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

The one-night-only Gala will feature the Theatre’s major MADE IN DERBY autumn production,
The Great Gatsby, presented in partnership with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, and will raise vital funds to support Derby Theatre’s next 50 years as a registered charity. All proceeds will help secure a future filled with top-class productions, bold new stories and opportunities for creativity across the community.

Gala Ticket Packages

Guests can choose from three ticket tiers, each offering a unique way to enjoy this special evening:

• Platinum (£90): Enjoy premium seats, a pre-show reception with fizz, food and live jazz, interval ice cream, a souvenir brochure, and exclusive access to an after-show party featuring live performances from past Derby Theatre productions.
• Gold (£60): Includes good seats, a welcome drink, interval ice cream, a souvenir brochure, and entry to the after-show party.
• Silver (£35): Offers a ticket to the performance, a welcome drink, interval ice cream and a souvenir brochure.

Tickets are limited. Book now by calling 01332 593939 or visiting www.derbytheatre.co.uk.

About The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a Derby Theatre and Pitlochry Festival Theatre production. Currently wowing audiences in Pitlochry, The Great Gatsby has been hailed by critics as “a dazzling, hopeful, forlorn and febrile production” (All Edinburgh Theatre ★★★★★) and “a powerful production performed by a talented cast” (The Herald ★★★★). Broadway World praised it for “bringing the glitz and glamour” of the Jazz Age. Audience feedback has been equally praising, calling the production “wonderful, emotional,” “very moving, mesmerising performances, a joy,” and “acting, singing and dancing of the highest calibre.” This momentum sets the stage for its eagerly awaited Derby Theatre run next month, on from Friday 3 to Saturday 25 October.

Chasing dreams in a world of glitter and illusion, The Great Gatsby is a bold new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s former Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman. Actor-musicians bring the Roaring Twenties to life in a glamorous, jazz-infused production that explores ambition, obsession, and the devastating cost of the American Dream.

Set in 1922, newcomer Nick Carraway is drawn into the dazzling world of enigmatic millionaire Jay Gatsby, who throws lavish parties in pursuit of his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. As lives intertwine and tensions rise, this timeless masterpiece reveals a poignant story of love, betrayal, and dreams that can never truly be fulfilled.

Performances include captioned, BSL interpreted, audio-described, dementia-friendly and distanced options, ensuring this landmark production is accessible to all.

Cast includes: Celeste Collier, Tyler Collins, April Nerissa Hudson, Leah Jamieson, Oraine Johnson, David Rankine, Jerome Lincoln, Fiona Wood and Louis Newman.

Creative team includes: Elizabeth Newman (Adaptor); Sarah Brigham (Director); Shonagh Murray (Musical Director); Jen McGinley (Set & Costume Designer); Ivan Stott (Sound Designer); Emma Jones (Lighting Designer); Sasha Harrington (Movement Director); Robin Hellier (Fight Director) and Laura Ryder (Associate Director).

Elizabeth Newman, adaptor of The Great Gatsby said:

“To live in Fitzgerald’s world has been a privilege… He has created a truly extraordinary tale that continues to resonate today as one of the great American classics.”

Sarah Brigham, Artistic Director of Derby Theatre:

“Elizabeth’s adaptation will transport audiences to the opulence of the Roaring Twenties. It’s a story as relevant today as ever – and Derby Theatre is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary with such a spectacular production.”

A night to remember

Derby Theatre’s Fundraising Gala, including a spectacular performance of The Great Gatsby, promises a true red-carpet celebration of 50 remarkable years of theatre-making – and a bold step into the future. Book your tickets now to play your part in shaping the next 50 years of creativity and culture at Derby Theatre.