By Chloe Halpin
Bursting with colour, chaos and chart-topping hits, Moulin Rouge! The Musical has taken over London’s West End. Founded in 1889 by Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler at the foot of Montmartre, The Moulin Rouge was designed as a vibrant escape where people from every background could come together and be entertained.
From the start, it was a place where diversity and inclusivity were celebrated.
In its early days, the cabaret became famous for its wild and glamorous parties. Dancers would perform the now legendary French can can, kicking up their skirts as the crowd cheered, clapped, and often jumped onto the dancefloor themselves. Yet the legend only grew from there, evolving into the global icon it is today.
Since its creation, the Moulin Rouge has been reimagined and brought to our screens with Baz Luhrmann’s take in 2001, starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Now, the Moulin Rouge takes centre stage as a musical.
From the iconic costumes to the catchy songs and dances that made you want to jump out of your seat, the theatre was transformed from floor to ceiling. Everywhere you looked, every corner was draped in red velvet curtains, perfectly placed. Lights were strung overhead while the iconic elephant sat at the side of the stage with the famous windmill opposite. Every detail made you feel like you’d been transported back in time into the real Moulin Rouge, surrounded by decadence, glamour, and playful chaos.
The stunning Karis Anderson starred as the Sparkling Diamond, Satine. Her costumes alone seemed to take over the room, shimmering with every move she made. She made her legendary entrance on a swing, slowly making her way to the stage as her voice filled the theatre, powerful yet full of emotion. Anderson perfectly embodied Satine’s mix of innocence and strength, bringing the character to life in both glamour and depth.
Craig Ryder was Harold Zidler, and he was electric. He grabbed my attention immediately, prancing around the stage with excitement. He had a strong bond with Satine, but he often pushed expectations onto her, urging her to act like the Sparkling Diamond even when her walls were beginning to fall.
The dance scenes were insane, my favourite was “Bad Romance.” Some of the other dance routines and mashups were sometimes overwhelming, but that chaos is part of the Moulin Rouge charm; you feel like you’re always on the go.
Richard Lloyd King as Toulouse and Ivan de Freitas as Santiago lit up every scene they appeared in together. The room was filled with laughter whenever they entered; they had a playful, irresistible charm.
One moment that stood out to me was Satine’s first performance of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” Her voice was confident and powerful, and she flaunted a luxurious lifestyle filled with diamonds around her neck and wrists. This almost serves as everything she thought she wanted: a life filled with wealth, security, and the life the Duke could provide. But when she performs the song a second time, it takes on a different meaning. It’s as if she’s convincing herself or reminding herself that that’s what she wants. After meeting her true love, Christian, he shifts her perspective.
The weight of her upbringing and the life she has lived leaves her caught between desire and expectation. The life she once wanted looks different and isn’t what she truly wants deep down. Satine embodies this tension perfectly, torn between following her heart and conforming to the world and expectations surrounding her.
The musical brilliantly brings in the “play within a play” concept. It is about a man who falls in love with a woman, but she is already promised to another. Sound familiar? Christian first ends up in Satine’s room by accident, and she mistakes him for the Duke while he is actually there to pitch a play. Chaos erupts when Harold Zidler and the Duke walk in. Satine, Christian, Toulouse and Santiago rush around the room, singing and dancing, desperately explaining the plot in hopes the Duke will fund the production as the Moulin Rouge is on the brink of bankruptcy.
The play provides an outlet for the characters to express their deepest feelings, and it mirrors their own lives. During rehearsals, the raw emotion between Christian and Satine bursts through the performance. Their love is strong, yet they must hide it from the Duke, a dangerous and controlling man who believes he owns both the cabaret and Satine. The tension rises each time they rehearse, the play becomes a reflection of their forbidden romance, capturing their passion, frustration, and the impossible choice between love and survival.
Alistair Brammer, who plays Christian, does an excellent job portraying his love for Satine. In every scene, he yearns for her. Satine is the inspiration for all his songs; it’s almost like she is his oxygen. He fights for her love even while she is with the Duke. Regardless of the danger or the heartbreak, he stays.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is more than a night at the theatre, it’s an immersive explosion of emotion, spectacle and storytelling that stays with you long after the curtains close. If you get the chance, you should absolutely go. It’s the kind of production that reminds you why live theatre matters, bold, beautiful, chaotic and utterly unforgettable. Whether you’re a fan of the film, the history, or just want a night filled with energy and glamour, this musical is one you don’t want to miss.