The Times
"Dazzling, dizzyingly enjoyable and flat-out spectacular."
Few shows announce themselves as loudly as Moulin Rouge! The Musical. A multiple Olivier and Tony Award winner, it turns the Piccadilly Theatre into a decadent, neon-soaked Parisian nightclub from the moment you walk in, and has been one of the most talked-about nights out in the West End since it opened in 2021.
Adapted from Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film, the show throws you into bohemian Montmartre at the turn of the twentieth century, where a young penniless writer named Christian falls headlong in love with Satine, the dazzling star of the Moulin Rouge. Their romance, by turns euphoric and heartbreaking, plays out against the glamour and desperation of the club, set to a mash-up of more than 70 pop songs spanning the last century.
Why it’s worth the watch
Moulin Rouge! is pure spectacle with a beating heart. Here is what makes it a standout:
- The design. A Tony-winning set drenches the auditorium in red velvet, windmill sails and a giant elephant, making it one of the most immersive spaces in the West End before a single note is sung.
- The mash-ups. The score stitches together everything from ‘Lady Marmalade’ and ‘Your Song’ to ‘Roxanne’, often several hits at once, to thrilling effect.
- The romance. Beneath the sequins it is a genuinely moving love story, anchored by the film’s original anthem ‘Come What May’.
- The party. Few shows match its sheer, unapologetic sense of occasion.
