If you’re wondering whether Twelfth Night Theatre’s recent glow-up was worth the hype, Brisbane Festival offering Gatsby at the Green Light answers with a resounding, Champagne-soaked yes. This type of show—intimate, a little cheeky, and absolutely brimming with energy—fits the refreshed space like it was made for it.
The art deco flourishes and low-lit cabaret tables evoke a secret 1920s nightclub, and by the action kicks off, you’re not just watching a show—you’re at the party.
Before the first routine even begins, the performers are already mingling with the crowd as wait staff. It’s a charming trick that blurs the line between service and spectacle: one moment they’re sliding a cocktail across your table, the next they’re dancers with charisma to burn, delivering crisp, high-energy choreography that ignites both the stage and the aisles between cabaret tables. There’s a thrill in realising the person who just handed you a gin fizz is now nailing a flawless routine just centimetres from your table.
The acts are unapologetically sexy, but never without wit or artistry. There’s playful burlesque, dazzling acrobatics, and a 1920s jazz age aesthetic that feels cinematic in its detail. The standout moment is the doomed romance of Gatsby and Daisy told as a lyra duo: a breathtaking aerial dance of longing and regret that left the room in hushed awe. It’s a reminder that even amid the glitter and flirtation, there’s real storytelling and heart here.
Audience interaction is key to the vibe. Those seated cabaret-style are folded right into the action, with performers dancing inches away and flirting through sly glances. Even if you’re in standard seating, there’s fun in watching the ripple of reactions around the room—the energy is infectious no matter where you sit.
More than a tribute to Fitzgerald’s novel, Gatsby at the Green Light is an immersive escape: part speakeasy, part circus, and wholly committed to transporting you to a world where the music is hot, the dancers hotter, and reality feels far, far away.
WHAT: Gatsby at the Green Light
WHERE: Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane
WHEN: As part of Brisbane Festival, until September 28.
TICKETS: Available here.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
