5 Reasons to Watch Moulin Rouge! The Musical

In 2001, Baz Luhrman’s Moulin Rouge, starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, revitalised the movie musical genre, which had seen a sharp decline in the nineties outside of Disney animated films. Featuring over 20 songs and short, snappy song and dance sequences reminiscent of music videos, it instantly stole audiences’ hearts with its swoon-worthy love story, famously tragic ending, and Luhrman’s signature unique and dazzling style - making it the perfect material for a stage adaptation.

In the musical, which has a book by John Logan and is directed by Alex Timbers, American song-writer Christian arrives in Paris during La Belle Epoque and is taken under the wings of a group of Bohemians, who bring him to the famous Moulin Rouge nightclub. There, he falls madly in love with the courtesan Satine, the club’s main starlet. As the Moulin Rouge prepares to put on a theatrical show in a bid to save the club from bankruptcy, Christian and Satine begin a passionate but covert affair while Satine is forced to seduce the cruel Duke of Monroth.

Karis Anderson in Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matt Crockett.

Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love

These are the ideals of the Bohemians, a movement that originated in 19th century Paris that championed free-spiritedness and artistic expression, and the themes that sit at the heart of the story. The musical embodies these ideals in its aesthetic and themes: from the ruby-red interior of the theatre to the gorgeous feather and glitter encrusted costumes, to the electrifying and dizzyingly choreographed dance numbers - every aspect is intended to celebrate the beauty, passion, and drama that the Bohemians espoused. The overriding message of the musical is “the greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return,” as Toulouse-Lautrec tells Christian, quoting Nat King Cole. It's this sentiment that weaves through the story and makes it feel so timeless and impactful.

A jukebox musical

Moulin Rouge! is a jukebox musical, which means its soundtrack features pre-existing popular songs instead of original ones. If you enjoy hearing covers of your favourite songs, you’ll love this - and it’s especially fascinating to see how the musical weaves well-known songs like Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’ into the story. It also goes a step further and mashes up songs into clever and entertaining medleys that combine different lyrics into fresh pieces of storytelling. ‘Elephant Love Medley’ combines a dizzying array of love songs as Christian and Satine begin their romance, and ‘Welcome to the Moulin Rouge’ throws together an eclectic mix of high-octane, high-energy tunes to an exhilarating dance number that sets the tone for the musical. Throw in beloved classics from the film like ‘Come What May’ and you have yourself a wonderfully dynamic and utterly unique score.

A classic story

There’s a reason why Baz Luhrman’s original story captured so many hearts and remained culturally relevant all these years later, easily replicated for the stage. It’s got the perfect balance of zany humour and heartbreaking tragedy, characters that feel both larger-than-life and endearing, and a dose that cheesiness that suggests it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It sets out to entertain, and that's exactly what it does, making it an overall fun evening out.

At the core of the musical is a play-within-a-play, a made-up show hilariously titled ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, which the Moulin Rouge rehearses for and performs in the final act. The play-within-a-play has parallels to Satine and Christian’s story, which blur the lines deliciously between theatre and reality. It’s also a way for the musical to show off its outlandish sense of theatricality in a self-aware, teasing way, with the characters overacting hilariously while playing out scenes from the show, or debating the artistic merits of changing the material.

The cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Photo by Matt Crockett.

The cast

A musical this bold and extravagent needs a powerful cast to carry it. Karis Anderson is phenomenal as Satine, shifting seamlessly between the sultry seductress and the starry-eyed, girlish side that Christian brings out in her. With her stunning vocal range and commanding physicality, she is every bit the diva of the Paris nightlife. Alistair Brammer as Christian is earnest and endearing as the soulful, idealistic lover, and compelling as our narrator. Ben Richards makes for a menacing but sometimes campy Duke, and Richard Lloyd King and Ivan de Freitas are hilarious and charming as the Bohemians Toulouse-Lautrec and Santiago. But the stand-out is easily Craig Ryder as Harold Zidler, our ringmaster into this wonderful and vibrant world, stealing every scene with his flamboyance, cheekiness, and theatricality.

A piece of history

The Moulin Rouge is, of course, a real-life cabaret club and an iconic piece of Parisian history. The birthplace of the can-can dance, known for its revolutionary architectural style and lively entertainment, it was a favored venue for artists, most notably the real-life Toulouse-Lautrec, who appears as a side character in the film and musical.

Stepping into the Piccadilly Theatre feels very much like you’ve wandered into the real Moulin Rouge: everything is washed in ruby red, and looming above the stage is a replica of the iconic windmill and the elephant in which Satine has her dressing room. Before the show starts, dancers warm up or lounge around onstage, building a sense of anticipation. Catherine Zuber's costume design and Sonya Tayeh's choreography makes the can-can dance numbers feel like we're watching a real performance at the original club. If you want a truly immersive experience, opt for the Can-Can Table Seats, which are right at the front of the Stalls, with the actors walking right past you on raised platforms.

The music choices are, of course, deliberately anachronistic. There’s something funny about hearing the great painter Toulouse-Lautrec singing Lorde’s 'Royals' while inducting Christian into the Bohemian lifestyle - but this cheeky, blatant anachronism only adds to the musical's charm, and makes it feel like a story that exists outside of time.

If all this sounds appealing, then don't miss your chance to catch one of the most beautifully staged musicals in the West End. Want to know more about what we meant about jukebox musicals? Check out our complete guide to the different types of musicals. And if you were blown away by the costumes in Moulin Rouge!, here's a list of the top theatre shows for fashion lovers.

Moulin Rouge Tickets