The Great Gatsby ‘On Air’ – Meet the Cast

As the anticipation builds for our upcoming production of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, we are thrilled to introduce the exceptional cast and director who will bring this classic tale to life on our stage.

Directed by Roy Marsden, this stellar ensemble is set to deliver an On Air performance that will transport audiences to the dazzling world of 1920s Jazz Age New York.

The Great Gatsby – At a Glance

Amidst the glittering facade of the Jazz Age, we follow the tragic story of the mysterious and enigmatic millionaire Jay Gatsby as his tragic plot exposes the moral decay and elusive nature of the pursuit of happiness.

We delve into the illicit source of Gatsby’s self-made fortune and his obsession to reunite with socialite and former lover, Daisy Buchanan.

Fitzgerald’s masterpiece is a poignant reflection on the hollowness beneath the surface of the Roaring Twenties’ excess and moral decline.

This is a Windsor On-Air production and will be brought to life with dazzling period costume, music and a Foley artist recreating sound effects and atmospherics live on stage. All performed on the set of a vintage-style recording studio.

Roy Marsden – Director

Bringing his wealth of experience to the production, Roy Marsden is well known to Windsor audiences for his ability to breathe life into timeless stories through the unique Radio Play format. Roy directed Bill Kenwright’s ‘The Classic Thriller Theatre Company’ in productions of A Judgement in Stone, Rehearsal for Murder, The Case of the Frightened Lady, The Lady Vanishes and The Cat and the Canary.

He has been directing plays since the age of 15, his first production being The Dybbuk in Yiddish. Since then, he has directed at least one play a year.

He was the artistic director of the Mermaid Theatre and then at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff and continues to be a director of the Bruvvers Theatre Company, Newcastle.

Cast

Carley Stenson – plays Daisy Buchanan/Myrtle Wilson

Seamlessly transitioning between television and theatre throughout her career, Carley has bought audiences memorable performances on stage in Dial M for Murder (Theatre Royal Windsor), as well as in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (ATG UK Tour), Les Miserables (Queens Theatre) and most recently From Here to Eternity (Charing Cross Theatre).

Perhaps best known for her role as Stephanie Cunningham in Hollyoaks – on which she was a fixture for 10 years – Stenson also starred in Doctors, Holby City and Suspects.

Carley will star as the alluring yet capricious Daisy Buchanan – wife of Tom Buchanan and the object of Jay Gatsby’s long-held affection. Her beauty and charm belie a complex and ultimately tragic nature, entangled in love and societal expectations.

Charlie Clements – plays Tom Buchanan

Charlie is perhaps best known to audiences for his time on EastEnders, where he portrayed estate agent and lovable geek, Bradley Branning.

Since leaving Albert Square after Bradley’s untimely death, Clements has been busy collecting stage credits for notable productions including The Mousetrap, The Case of the Frightened Lady (for bill Kenwright, UK Tour), The Greater Game.On Television he has appeared in Holby City, Elizabeth and her Enemies and Murdoch Mysteries.

Charlie will be taking on the role of the wealthy and arrogant Tom Buchanan, whose Old Money background and values are a cipher for the moral decay and excesses of the Jazz Age.

Eva O’Hara – plays Jordan Baker

Eva landed her first television role upon graduating from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, playing Verity – the fierce, fun-loving lawyer – in Hollyoaks. After three thrilling years on our television screens, she returns to her roots on the stage.

Eva plays Jordan Baker, professional golfer and best friend to Daisy Buchanan. Jordan exudes independence and cynicism, with her relationship with Nick Carraway providing vital insight into the themes of moral decline and deception.

George Banks – plays Nick Carraway

George has played at leading regional theatres across the UK, starring in The Mousetrap, Dial M for Murder, The History Boys, Pride and Prejudice, Birdsong and Honeymoon Suite. On screen, he is best known for his role as Henry Newton in Coronation Street. He has also lent his voice to several documentaries, news broadcasts and independent radio dramas.

George takes the role of Nick Carraway, the narrator. Working in financial services and a newcomer in West Egg, he becomes entangled in the lives of his cousin Daisy and his enigmatic neighbour, Jay Gatsby.

Jonny Labey – plays Jay Gatsby/George Wilson

Jonny’s career highlight to date was his portrayal of the lead role of Scott Hastings in Baz Luhrmann’s original West End cast of Strictly Ballroom at the Piccadilly Theatre. His television work for the BBC includes playing series regular Paul Coker in EastEnders, as well as in Doctors and Shakespeare and Hathaway.

Jonny is set to produce a one-man play and film titled MAGIC MAGIC MAGIC this year and will make his directorial debut with the short film We All Scream, coinciding with the debut of My Favourite Things in cinemas across the UK, where Jonny spearheads the show-stopping tap number ‘Kansas City’ for the Rogers and Hammerstein 80th gala celebration.

Jonny plays the enigmatic millionaire, Jay Gatsby, whose decadent parties mask his unrequited love for Daisy Buchanan.

Sophie Burke – plays Pianist/Singer/Woman 1

Sophie works extensively as a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and musical director having trained in musical theatre at The Urdang Academy. Most recently, Sophie was the Musical Director for Theatre Royal Windsor’s 2023 pantomime Aladdin, her fifth panto at Windsor.

On stage, Sophie’s credits include national tours of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dreamboats and Petticoats, Guys and Dolls and a European Tour of The Rocky Horror Show.

Sophie will showcase her musical talents as pianist and singer.

Martin Carroll – plays Foley Artist/Meyer Wolfsheim/Butler/Policeman

Martin has a slew of classical roles to his name, including Macbeth, Iago in Othello, Claudius in Hamlet and Doctor Faustus. He has played internationally in Singapore as Van Helsing in Dracula, as well as for famed theatre companies across the UK, with roles in Fisherman’s Friend The Musical, The Cat & The Canary, Richard III, Little Shop of Horrors, The Hobbit and A Christmas Carol.

Martin will take charge of the studio foley, providing the soundscape and atmosphere to accompany the radio play and evoke an authentic radio studio setting. He will also play Meyer Wolfsheim, a notorious underworld figure with connections to organised crime, as well as other fleeting roles.

Holly Smith – plays Lucille McKee/Maid/Woman 2

Holly has starred in numerous West End and UK Touring productions, as well as various shows at the English Theatre of Hamburg. Her theatre credits include The Mirror Crack’d, Boeing Boeing, Teechers and The Odd Couple. On television, she was recently in Killing Eve 2, Watson & Oliver and Coming of Age.

Holly plays a variety of roles, including Lucille McKee, a member of the high society that Gatsby ingratiates himself with.