Moulin Rouge! The Musical isn’t just a theatre show—it’s a full-blown sensory experience.
From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere crackles with anticipation. Bathed in sultry red lights and crowned by a luminous “Moulin Rouge” sign, the theatre transforms into a world of heady romance and Parisian bohemian life. It sets the tone perfectly for the spectacular ride ahead.
If you’ve seen Baz Luhrmann’s iconic film, you’ll be familiar with the core storyline: an impoverished cabaret performer is courted by a wealthy Duke offering security, but she falls instead for a penniless American songwriter. Yes, it’s melodramatic and predictable—but the stage adaptation embraces this and elevates it with electrifying theatricality.
One of the production’s greatest triumphs is its music. The score has been reimagined to include more recent chart-toppers, cleverly mashed together in inventive arrangements. These genre-blending numbers are delivered with incredible energy and passion by a phenomenal cast.
Satine is played exquisitely by Verity Thompson, who brings both glamour and vulnerability to the role. Her voice soars and her presence commands the stage. Nate Landskroner brings heartfelt sincerity and irresistible charm to Christian, making their chemistry electric. And Cameron Blakely is pitch-perfect as Harold Zidler—the flamboyant yet tender-hearted ringmaster of the Moulin Rouge, stealing scenes with wit and warmth.
The ensemble, too, is simply a joy to watch: dynamic, polished, and utterly in sync, they breathe life into every corner of the stage.
Visually, the show is a knockout. The lighting design is nothing short of breathtaking—moody, bold, and deeply evocative. It works in stunning harmony with the glittering, reflective costumes to amplify every emotion and beat.
And then there’s the set. Ingenious in design and seamless in execution, it whisks us from the vibrant heart of the Moulin Rouge to the gritty streets of Montmartre with cinematic fluidity. Every scene change is a marvel.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t a traditional musical in the Rodgers and Hammerstein sense. Some of the themes and choreography lean into more adult territory. But for those seeking bold, contemporary, and unapologetically flamboyant theatre, Moulin Rouge delivers in glittering, gasp-inducing style.
By the finale—with confetti flying and the cast basking in a well-earned standing ovation—it’s clear: this is a show that doesn’t just entertain, it seduces.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is at the Bristol Hippodrome until August 9th.
BC