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Egypt Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Egypt Independent
The Days of the Gatsby
My dear daughter invited me and my wife to the theater to watch The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum. Theater to me has always been a very special event. In my days of youth, the audience arrived promptly, quietly -there was no queuing or security. Men wore suits with ties while women had elegant dresses. The chairs were comfortable and there was space and the ability to cross your legs. The audience did not have to do a jack-in-the-box every time someone wanted to pass. This performance was great in spite of members of the audience wearing shorts, flip-flops and jeans. Jamie Muscato as Jay Gatsby was very impressive and his voice thunderous. Daisy (Francesca McCann) too had a great voice, and portrayed the cold, unemotional side of humanity to perfection, while Corbin Bleu, representing humanity and rationality, got much less recognition than he deserved. But leaving the theater, I felt the play was not about Gatsby but about what the world is experiencing today. A present of materialism, moral decay and complete vaccination towards humanity. In spite of the belief of many that history does not repeat itself, today is a reflection of the 1920s over 100 years ago. A week after enjoying The Great Gatsby I was invited in Hampstead, in Bishops Avenue, for a seated dinner at my friend Steve Ellison. Ellison, at 77, looked 50. Athletic, full head of fair hair, a chiseled chin and a permanent smile. Steve was a semi-retired investor. Born in America in Tucson, but living in London with two German Shepherds, Rocky and Toshka. It was a small group of six guests in addition to Steve and I. We all arrived around 6:30 pm and by seven pm, after cocktails, we were seated at the dining table. Martin Clayton, a Londoner, was in his 50s sitting on Steve's left, a banker who covered the Middle East. Gabriella Cornelli, originally from Puglia, Italy, sat on Steve's right. She was the owner of a major pharmaceutical company. Gabriella was young, beautifully dressed, with a warm smile and a perfect English accent. At one head of the table was Eli Elpstein, an Israeli American, in his late 50s or early 60s, a surgeon living in New York. I was to his right and on my right, facing Steve, was Mai Kawar, in her 40s, attractive Jordanian with a sharp mind. Mai was the founder and Chairperson of a think tank with branches in Amman, Paris, London, and DC. On Mai's right was Sergey Mertchev, a Russian-Ukrainian, a former diplomat and present writer and author. At the other head of the table was Henry Goh from Singapore. Henry was in his late 60s, rod thin, white hair, an owner of hotels and manufacturing facilities across Asia. As the first course was being served, Steve shattered the small talk around the table and said, 'Now what,' in a clear strong but not high voice. His eyes went around the table looking at each guest as all of us sat silently. He repeated, 'Now what,' in a more definitive voice. I responded, 'What do you mean, Steve?' He smiled and said, 'Now I got a reaction', he continued by explaining, 'Now what,' given that the world's moral compass has gone into free fall and awry, while humanity has become desensitized to mass murder, war, killings, starvation, irrational leaders and policies that are erratic, crises prone, racism, genocide, and a level of inhumanity not seen in the 21st century…….. 'What next?' he asked. Gabriella interjected and said that as the 21st century unfolded, she had hope that the world would be more peaceful, more prosperous, more prone towards collaboration, focusing on solving homelessness, improved medication dealing with diseases and more food plus less military budgets. Martin said not with Trump and the leaders we have today. 'None are 21st-century leaders—at best, 20th century,' he added. 'Why are there no 21st-century leaders?' asked Henry. 'We in Singapore are doing very well.' I said we had a leader in the 20th century that truly was 21st—Anwar Sadat. Eli responded, 'So was Rabin.' Steve added, 'Let's not forget Reagan or Clinton to be balanced.' However, Steve added, it's not just the leadership – the question is how is humanity continuing as if nothing is happening with the daily deaths, destruction and complete lack of serious action against planned starvation, ethnic cleansing, displaced populations, demolishing of homes, hospitals, infrastructure and crimes such as stripping men naked, tying their hands and legs and peeing on them. The deafening silence was followed by Mai speaking in a quiet voice: 'It's people like Netanyahu and Putin that have thrown out any rules and promoted horror, barbarism, amoral activity and the total erosion of empathy.' As Mai spoke and the servers removed our first plate and placed our main, my mind swung to The Great Gatsby play and how the actors acted in a total disregard to ethics, double treason, unwarranted violence and not only lack of empathy but a simple act of total ignorance. It's like pins falling in a bowling game rather than lives extinguished, born of sick minds. Eli, whilst rolling his pasta by the fork in his right hand into a spoon in his left, said, 'I am a proud American Israeli, but I see Netanyahu bringing hatred upon Israel and Trump dividing the American population.' Mai interjected, 'What about the tens of thousands killed and maimed in Gaza and thousands having their homes destroyed in the West Bank?' Eli did not raise his eyes from his plate as he swallowed a big swarm of pasta. Sergey, with a glass of wine in his right hand, said what is happening with the Ukraine and Russia war is ludicrous and could have been avoided before it began. He added this war is beneficial to the West as it's destructive to Russia and Ukrainians pay the price, whilst a big chunk of money is being made daily. Many are benefiting from this war. A lot of profit in too many pockets—that is why it continues. Not to mention, whilst my heart is with Ukraine—Zelensky is enjoying his role on the global stage and the money that comes with it. Sergey placed his glass on the table and proceeded to tear into his fillet. Gabriella stopped eating and said, 'Do you realize the huge mental strain resulting from the wars and conflicts, not to mention the geo-economic disruptions from sanctions, tariffs, supply chain problems, and geopolitical tensions?' Steve placed his fork and knife across his plate, waved to the server for more wine, and said, 'Trump has multiple times talked about a ceasefire and nothing occurred. Now he reflects upon starvation in Gaza as Netanyahu blocks all humanitarian aid and the world watches.' As Henry fidgeted in his seat, he said, 'The lack of an Arab and Islamic front in facing Israel's atrocities has allowed this to happen.' Mai was nodding as Gabriella said, 'I admire Ms. Meloni as she is a good Prime Minister for Italy, but I disagree with her statement recognizing a Palestinian State before its establishment may be counterproductive… a very wrong statement. Israel was recognized way before it was established.' Eli, who was quiet, interrupted and said, 'Please all remember that Israel was attacked with no provocation and is acting in self-defense in Gaza.' Mai responded, 'Unprovoked! 70 years of occupation and that is no provocation? A recent statement by Emily Damari said that when she was a hostage she was in a cage-like environment for 15 months. Does she not realize that there are Palestinians born and lived all their lives in a cage with daily checkpoints, midnight atrocity crimes — all detailed in B'Tselem human rights group's report titled 'Our Genocide'?' Silence grasped the table. I said, 'No one seems to mind as disasters across the world increase in their ferocity and inhumanity.' My mind went again to The Great Gatsby — profits being made during the prohibition, ethics being shuffled aside, and whatever attacks occurred all danced to the music. Steve ushered the dessert and coffee as he said once again, 'Now what?' or better still, 'What next?' I ventured, 'We need to find peaceful, sustainable solutions, win-win to all these problems. All problems can be sorted if there is the will and the courage of the conviction. There could have been,' I explained, 'a Zelensky meeting in Moscow with Putin before the war broke out. Abbas and Hamas could have stepped out and America and Israel proclaimed a Palestinian State instead of the catastrophic state of affairs born by Netanyahu's policies since 2006 when he supported Hamas to rule Gaza.' Martin interrupted, saying to Steve, 'Shall we go to the terrace for cigars?' Henry stood up along with Steve, followed by all of us. I bid Steve a thank you and good evening to all and headed to the door. Raymond, the butler, opened the door and waved to my driver Jessie as my mind went one last time to The Great Gatsby. Gatsby was shot and killed for a crime he did not commit. But no one who knew did bat an eye — all convinced as if nothing happened. I hoped that would not happen to the world my daughter will face and that humanity will learn from its mistakes. About the author M. Shafik Gabr is a renowned leader in international business, innovation, investment and one of the world's premier collectors of Orientalist art, and an accomplished philanthropist. During his career, Gabr established over 25 companies plus three investment holding companies including ARTOC Group for Investment and Development which, established in 1971, is a multi-disciplined investment holding company with businesses in infrastructure, automotive, engineering, construction and real estate, over the past three years focusing on investment in technology and artificial intelligence. Gabr is the Chairman and a founding member of Egypt's International Economic Forum, a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum, a Board Member of Stanhope Capital, an International Chairman of the Sadat Congressional Gold Medal Committee, and a Member of the Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum. Gabr is a Member of the Metropolitan Museum's International Council and serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for Financial Stability, the Advisory Board of The Middle East Institute, and the Global Advisory Council of the Mayo Clinic. Through the Shafik Gabr Social Development Foundation, Gabr is helping to improve elementary-school education in Egypt, introducing students to arts and culture and promoting sports and physical fitness for youth. The Foundation has its first Medical and Social Development Center in Mokattam, Cairo, offering free medical and health services. In 2012 Gabr established in the US the Shafik Gabr Foundation which supports educational and medical initiatives plus launched in November 2012 the 'East-West: The Art of Dialogue initiative promoting exchanges between the US and Egypt with the purpose of cultural dialogue and bridge-building. Gabr holds a BA in Economics and Management from the American University in Cairo and an MA in Economics from the University of London.
Daily Mail
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Amber Davies hits out at 'selfish' theatre goer for 'ruining' her West End performance in The Great Gatsby in furious online rant
Former Love Island winner Amber Davies has hit out at a 'selfish' theatre goer for 'ruining' her West End performance in The Great Gatsby. The theatre actress, 28, took to Instagram in full stage make-up while backstage at the London Coliseum following her latest show. After Saturday evening's performance, Amber issued a warning to those attending the musical after being distracted by someone in the audience. She told Instagram followers: 'This is a PSA. The closer you are to the stage when you're watching a show the more obvious it is when you're filming. 'This is the entire stalls. If you're filming in the stalls we can see you! From someone who's on stage, I just wanna tell you a little bit about what we see. So we see like a dark canvas and outlines of people's heads. 'If you're filming, the reflection from the lights bounce straight back off your ... the back of your iPhone onto us on stage. So it is the one thing we can see.' She then criticised one particular audience member. 'So to the woman filming New Money tonight - you distracted absolutely everybody on that stage. 'And not only that, it takes us out of the Gatsby world because you're filming and you've basically ruined that moment for everybody else who was watching the show tonight.' 'Please don't be selfish. Stop filming shows. If someone is filming during a show know that this is the consequences that it has to the people on stage and tell them to stop because honestly it's annoying. 'Also, I single-handedly will count how many seats back you are and tell our stage manager where you're sitting and what colour hair you've got, and trust me, in the interval they will come and ask you to delete the footage so you've basically done it for nothing. 'Okay, I'm gonna enjoy act two now.' The production, running at the London Coliseum from April 16 to September 7, brings F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic story to life in dazzling style. In February, the complete casting for the West End production was revealed. Joining the previously announced Jamie Muscato as Jay Gatsby and Frances Mayli McCann as Daisy Buchanan are Corbin Bleu as Nick Carraway, Amber Davies as Jordan Baker, Joel Montague as George Wilson, John Owen-Jones as Meyer Wolfsheim, Jon Robyns as Tom Buchanan and Rachel Tucker as Myrtle Wilson. Adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic American novel, The Great Gatsby follows the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his quest to win back the heart of married socialite Daisy Buchanan, his former flame. This musical adaptation arrives in London following its 2024 Broadway premiere, where it won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design. Earlier in January, the star lashed out at trolls who criticised her for her work schedule. The beauty, who won Love Island back in 2017, took to Instagram at the time to share a snap of herself returning to work at the Universal Music Group studios, where she was thought to be recording her podcast Call to Stage. Captioning her mirror selfie, Amber penned: 'First working day of 2025', before adding: 'Time to buckle up.' And while the West End star seemed in good spirits about getting back to the grind, she found herself facing backlash at having only just returned to work 20 days into the new year. A second image on Amber's stories then showed the response she received on her last post, with one person responding: 'Imagine going over half the month without working ' alongside eye roll emojis. Clearly unimpressed with the criticism, Amber then wrote over the screenshot, hitting out at the person as she remarked that she 'needed the break' before urging them to not judge. She wrote: 'Erm I need the break. I lived out of a suitcase on tour for a whole year with no day off in sight, whilst doing 8 shows a week & then worked all the way up to week before Xmas so ... Don't judge my unemployed downtime.' Amber's hard work she referred to was her year-long role as Vivian Ward in the touring production of the Pretty Woman musical. The star then went on to further address the criticism in a video shared to her stories as she opened up about the difficulties of self-employed working and noted that she would have worked 'if the work was there'. Speaking to the camera, Amber said: 'I literally love the internet. Everyone's like "you don't need to justify yourself". And I'm like "justify myself for being self-employed?".' She went on: 'Like, yes, I've had half of the month off, the majority of the month off, because 1) I'm self-employed and 2) I did need a break, but if the work was there, I would have worked.' Captioning her clip, she added: 'Love to the self employed'.
Belfast Telegraph
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Rachel Tucker: ‘I came out of my mum's belly singing'
The 44-year-old, originally from north Belfast, is currently playing Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby musical at the London Coliseum.
Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Ultimate guide to the London Coliseum
The London Coliseum is one of the most recognisable and famous theatres in the West End. It's also the largest theatre in the capital, offering a huge space for staging epic opera productions, dance and theatre shows. Find out more about the Coliseum London, including its storied history, what shows are on, and all about London Coliseum seating and booking London Coliseum tickets. History of the venue The Coliseum Theatre London first opened on St Martin's Lane in the West End in December 1904, although it was originally called the London Coliseum Theatre of Varieties. It was designed by the celebrated theatre architect Frank Matcham, and the intent was to create the finest music hall of the age – the 'people's palace of entertainment'. It took a while for the venue to find its true purpose; in the meantime, the owners experimented with everything from plays, operettas and variety acts to hosting a cricket match. Musicals proved a big hit from the 1940s onwards. In 1968, the Sadler's Wells Opera Company (later the English National Opera) moved into the London Coliseum. What's on at the London Coliseum The Coliseum is now the official home of the English National Opera (ENO) and English National Ballet (ENB), so their shows make up the bulk of the programming. It also regularly stages large-scale musicals during the summer. In 2025, for example, the London Coliseum is hosting the ravishing stage musical version of The Great Gatsby. Current and upcoming shows The Great Gatsby is currently playing at the Coliseum. This spectacular stage musical version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's seminal novel was a sensation on Broadway and is the perfect fit for this spectacular venue. Upcoming shows include ENO's productions of Rossini's Cinderella, Bizet's Carmen, Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring, and Handel's Partenope. Dance productions include ENB's gorgeous family Christmas show, Nutcracker, and Akram Khan's spine-tingling version of mystical ballet Giselle. Past events The London Coliseum has seen a number of extraordinary ENO opera productions and ENB dance productions over the years, as well as musicals such as Queen's We Will Rock You, classic musical My Fair Lady, and the joyful Hairspray and On Your Feet. What you need to know about booking London Coliseum tickets It's simple to find the best seats at the Coliseum and make the most of your visit. How to book online Visit Telegraph Tickets to find all the latest shows playing at the Coliseum. Once you've chosen your preferred show, select the date you want to go and choose your seats on the seating map. You can find images on the show page too if you want to see London Coliseum photos. The Coliseum has four seating sections. The stalls are closest to the stage and offer the most excitingly immersive experience. The dress circle gives you a slightly different vantage point from above the stage and also offers excellent views. Higher up are the upper circle and balcony, which still offer great seats but, if price is a consideration, this is where you'll find cheap tickets. Accessibility at the London Coliseum The Coliseum has plenty of assistance for people with additional needs, as well as accessible seating options. There are wheelchair spaces in the stalls, dress circle and stalls boxes, and transfer seats in the dress circle and balcony. There are adapted unisex toilets and two lifts provide access to the venue's bars and restaurants. Age restrictions Each show's page on the Telegraph Tickets site offers helpful information about age restrictions. For example, if you're booking tickets for Nutcracker at the Coliseum, you can see that the show is recommended for ages five and above. Refunds and exchanges Tickets purchased through Telegraph Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after you have made your purchase, unless the performance is cancelled or rescheduled. In that case, you will be entitled to claim a refund. Theatre capacity The London Coliseum has a seating capacity of 2,359. The venue also boasts the widest proscenium arch in the West End, and it's worth a visit purely to see this beautifully conceived building, although the extravagant shows are clearly the main draw. Planning your visit To make your visit to the Coliseum as smooth and enjoyable as possible, it's worth planning ahead. Where is the London Coliseum? The Coliseum is on St Martin's Lane, London WC2N, in the heart of the West End. It's surrounded by other venues that light up this world-renowned theatre district. It's very easy to combine a theatre trip with other sightseeing or cultural activities, whether that's a visit to Leicester Square or Trafalgar Square, to the National Gallery or National Portrait Gallery, or areas like Chinatown, Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus. There are numerous restaurants, pubs, bars and cafés within walking distance, as well as plenty of excellent transport links. How to get there: directions and transport Plot the best route to the London Coliseum via public transport by visiting the Transport for London website, which includes the underground train system (Tube), overground trains, buses, walking routes with maps, and more. Make sure you leave plenty of time for entering the theatre and having your bag checked (in line with the venue's bag policy), as well as buying a drink and programme, and then finding your seat. Nearest Tube station The closest Tube station to the Coliseum is Leicester Square, which is on the Northern Line and Piccadilly Line and is only a couple of minutes' walk from the theatre. Charing Cross Station is also very close by. It serves the Northern Line, Bakerloo Line and mainline train services. Other forms of public transport Numerous bus and overground train routes take you to the West End. You can also rent a bike through the Santander Cycles scheme if you are a confident cyclist, and it's also pleasant to walk around the area and enjoy this bustling part of London. Places to stay The centre of London has plenty of hotels to suit every preference and budget. Hotels close to the Coliseum include The Savoy, Premier Inn, Radisson Blu, The Dilly, The Cavendish, Strand Palace, The Z Hotel, St Giles London, The Clermont, and The Waldorf Hilton. Dining suggestions You can enjoy a pre- or post-theatre meal at one of the West End's excellent dining spots. And the Coliseum itself has fantastic food options, including a luxurious afternoon tea. Nearby, Covent Garden has dozens of high-quality eateries and, if you're a fan of Asian cuisine, make a bee-line for London's superb Chinatown district. FAQs How big is the London Coliseum? The Coliseum has a capacity of 2,359 across four sections: the stalls, the dress circle, the upper circle and the balcony. It's the largest theatre in London and has the biggest proscenium arch, so watching shows here is a spectacular experience. This huge space allows directors to stage ambitious productions with big casts and orchestras, making it one of the best venues in London to experience a full-scale opera, ballet or musical. Does the London Coliseum have air conditioning? The Coliseum has an effective air-cooling system for the comfort of the performers and audience. Does the London Coliseum have a dress code? There is no set London Coliseum dress code, so you are free to wear whatever you wish. However, in such a majestic setting, you might want to wear a dress or smart trousers to add to the fun of the occasion. What time should I arrive before a show? The Coliseum opens its doors 75 minutes before the show begins, so you're very welcome to arrive early, soak up the atmosphere of this wonderful building, buy a programme, and have a drink in one of the bars (which also open 75 minutes ahead of showtime). The auditorium opens 30 minutes before curtain up. The venue recommends that you arrive no later than 15 minutes before the show begins, so that you're not in a rush to find your seat and get settled. Note that the theatre will get very busy just before the show so, if you want to avoid the rush, try to get there earlier.
Leader Live
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Strictly's Johannes Radebe to make West End debut as Kinky Boots' drag queen
The South African dancer, who made his debut on British TV with Strictly in 2018, joined the cast of the Olivier and Tony award-winning musical earlier this year as drag queen Lola, ahead of its run at London Coliseum in 2026. The show follows the story of Charlie Price, who inherits his family's failing shoe factory and develops a line of high-heeled boots after meeting cabaret performer Lola. In 2021, Radebe reached the Strictly final with Bake Off star John Whaite, who were the first all-male couple on the show, and was paired last year with BBC Gladiators star Montell Douglas. Radebe said: 'I left my township in Zamdela at the age of 21 to dance in the ensemble on a cruise ship. 'Every night we did Abba. That was my dream come true. 'Never then, nor since then, was it in my wildest dreams that I would have the opportunity to star in a musical in London's West End. 'And not just any musical, my favourite musical – Kinky Boots. 'My involvement in Kinky Boots has been six years in the making, and Lola was the only role I ever wanted to play.' 'The theatre community has welcomed me, and I am having the time of my life,' he added. Composer and lyricist of the show, pop star Cyndi Lauper said: 'I'm so thrilled that Kinky Boots is returning home to London. 'When audiences leave the show, they feel happy and uplifted, and that's something the world could really use right now. 'It's so wonderful that this musical keeps bringing joy and acceptance to people around the world.' The London production will run for 17 weeks from March 17 to July 11 2026, and tickets will go on sale on July 15 this year. The show is currently touring the UK and Ireland.
