There are some shows that entertain you and then there are shows that utterly amaze you and overwhelm your senses. ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ belongs in the latter. An iconic adaption of Baz Luhrmann’s classic film, brought to life on stage by a spectacular cast who invites the audience into the seductive & extravagant world of Moulin Rouge in all its indulgent, bohemian beauty. The scale of this show really is something to behold – there is so much to look at and experience throughout that I feel like I need to see it again to take it all in! Luhrmann’s iconic world of Parisian decadence, passion, romance and rebellion absolutely explodes onto the stage in a production that is every bit as spectacular as it claims to be. This is musical theatre on such an immense scale: sensual, seductive, extremely extravagant and unapologetic in its indulgent splendour. That is not to say this show is mere spectacle, there is a heartfelt message at its core about love, ambition and sacrifice, that we can all relate to and invest in.
Set in Paris in 1899, the story follows Christian, a young American songwriter who finds himself swept up into the dazzling world of the Moulin Rouge. When he meets Satine, the diamond star of the club, the pair quickly fall in love. As with many stories of love and loss, their romance is far from straightforward. At its core, this is a timeless tale of love vs power, but the production envelopes itself with humour, musical intervention and sublime spectacle so proficiently and with such ease it still feels fresh today.
The music in this show is one of the shows greatest strengths. Instead of rehashing the familiar, the stage musical expands on the musical world of Moulin Rouge to create somewhat of a musical mash up of songs, bringing together a clever score of music spanning 160 years. With seamless humour, familiar songs are presented afresh, they are recontextualised and woven into the story as if they had been written for the musical itself. The inclusion of new music alongside the well-known fan favourites from the film creates a juxtaposition between the old and new and gives this production its own identity within the Moulin Rouge world. At the centre of the fabulous score are the accomplished cast who expertly command the stage, keeping the very human story firmly at the heart of this production.
Verity Thompson as Satine was simply breathtaking. Having seen her perform before, as soon as she stepped on the stage I knew Satine was in good hands, and Verity did not disappoint. The range and power behind her vocals are simply breathtaking. Her opening number ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ absolutely brought the house down and she matched this energy and passion throughout. Nate Landskroner who plays Christian also stunned with his exceptional vocals and characterisation, bringing humour and heart to the role. The chemistry between our two lovers was palpable and their intimate moments on stage had the audience hanging on the edge of their seats.
The supporting company is also exceptional bringing humour, heart and huge personality to the cast. Cameron Blakely as Zidler brings a huge theatrical presence balancing comedy, charisma and genuine emotional investment in the Moulin Rouge. The ensemble is integral to the success of this show. They are tasked with moving fluidly between acting, singing and demanding choreography, often while navigating a production that is not shy with its use of set and moving set pieces. The movement is slick and focused throughout, everything is seamless and fluid with high energy and dedication from the cast, when coupled with the exquisite set and costume, the result is a cast that feels committed and completely indulged in the world they are creating. This is performance at its absolute peak. The choreography by Sonya Tayeh is sublime, and the energy and enthusiasm with which the cast deliver it is unmatched, every single movement in the show is carefully crafted and has meaning, this is evident throughout and really pulls the audience into the story, making each movement as integral to storytelling as the songs and spoken word.
Another aspect of this production that stood out for me was the lighting design by Justin Townsend. The lighting in this production is instrumental in creating and keeping the atmosphere of the show’s story central to the production. The lighting here doesn’t just light up the stage, it helps to tell the story and immerse the audience into the presented world. The Moulin Rouge itself, for example, with its vibrant and rich theatrical lighting is contrasted with more intimate moments where characters and the story are given room to breathe and the lighting design reflects these shifts perfectly. This is a production that understands contrast and the lighting is used to great effect to highlight the contrasts in both story and characters. The lighting is glamorous, atmospheric, even hectic at times, but it never loses sight of the performers at its core.
Costume is probably one of the first things people think of when they hear Moulin Rouge. With more than 300 costumes, over 1200 different fabrics and 150,000 crystals used, the sheer scale of the costume design should warrant a review of its own. Catherine Zuber’s design is simply stunning, they establish character and status, they distinguish between bohemians and aristocrats, driving the story on and dazzling the audience (literally!) with lavish decadent designs that we have come to associate with this show. Seeing some of the costumes backstage, up close and in detail really showed what craftsmanship goes into making them sparkle and maintaining them in between shows.
The productions set is enormous in scale and almost immediately recognisable. They embrace the visual language of Luhrmann’s film but doesn’t attempt to mimic it at all. Instead, the set creates a heightened theatrical world that is familiar yet fresh. There is almost a dreamlike quality to the staging, with the show moving constantly between intimate moments of storytelling and huge theatrical set pieces that frame the stage. The show knows what its audience want, spectacle. They want the feathers and the dazzling crystals and the extravagance of elaborate costumes dripping with style. It would be impossible to review this show without talking about spectacle and it would be easy to lose yourself in just this alone, but the cast anchor the story, and the spectacle never completely overshadows it. This balance, I feel, is crucial and expertly navigated by the creative team and cast.
‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ is theatrical excess at its very best. It is big, bold and beautiful and doesn’t shy away from the spectacular being completely committed to its own vision. For a production that has been seen countless times by 12 million people worldwide, the show still feels fresh and exciting – it’s easy to see why this piece of magic endures and continues to travel the world, entertaining all who have the pleasure of experiencing it. Combining a hugely talented cast, extraordinary costumes and inventive musical arrangements, this show is the perfect mix of theatrical magic that could never fail to impress. It invites the audience into a world of passion, romance, music and excess and cranks the volume to full. This is a show not to be missed! You can catch Moulin Rouge! The musical at Theatre Royal Plymouth until 19th September 2026!
Reviewed by Ami Philpott
*Gifted – This theatre review was written following a gifted ticket to the performance. However, all opinions and views expressed in this review are entirely that of the reviewer and the review has not been influenced in any way by the provision of the ticket. Our commitment remains to provide an honest and unbiased assessment of the experience.
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