I saw the film Moulin Rouge while on holiday in California in 2001. My friend and I spotted that Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman were in it, so we bought tickets with no clue it was a musical. When the first song started, we looked at each other in surprise and then settled in for a fantastic couple of hours, and bought the soundtrack the next day. I wasn’t sure if the theatrical version would live up to it, but I was happy to be proved wrong.
The show has already been playing at the Piccadilly Theatre for almost four years and is currently scheduled to run until May 2026. But it’s such a spectacular and immersive experience that I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s further extended. A world tour has also already started.
In London, the Piccadilly Theatre has been transformed into Paris’ iconic Moulin Rouge with dazzling lights and gorgeous crimson decor. On either side are a giant elephant, and, of course, a windmill. Can Can seats are available at the very front of the auditorium to put you right in the heart of the action, though I think you get a better overall view further back.
To add to the immersion, there’s a pre-show of dancers and acrobats meandering the stage and staring provocatively into the audience. Once the action starts, you see just what the dancers are capable of. The whole cast is excellent and puts so much energy into their performances. They must get one heck of a workout by the end of it.
The premise of the story is the same, with wide-eyed young Englishman Christian falling instantly in love with Satine, the star courtesan at the Moulin Rouge nightclub. The jealous Duke is there to try and thwart their romance, while club owner Harold Zidler is trying to persuade the Duke to invest and save the club. Satine is the Duke’s price, but none of the men know that she has a deadly secret.
In a similar vein to the movie, the show uses a multitude of pop songs to tell the story. I was expecting the same mash-up of music, but a lot of the songs were much more current. Which makes sense given the film came out more than 20 years ago. Some of the songs work better than others, but there are plenty to enjoy, including, of course, the film’s most famous original song Come What May.
Some people are a bit snobby about what they would call a ‘jukebox musical’, but if you enjoyed the Moulin Rouge film or were a fan of the musical And Juliet, you’ll love it. I was a big fan of both and thoroughly enjoyed the Moulin Rouge theatrical experience.
You can book tickets for Moulin Rouge in London or the tour on the musical’s website. For more reviews of theatre, art, comedy and music, check the Arts section of my blog.