Moulin Rouge

Palace Theatre & Opera House Manchester

20th August to 4th October

Thursday 21st August - Press Night

ATG Tickets

Curtain Up: 19:35

Curtain Down: 22:20

‘QUITE SIMPLY - MOULIN ROUGE MUSICAL IS MAGNIFIQUE! - 5*****’

‘ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE…. Well maybe a ticket to MOULIN ROUGE too!’ 

‘BOOK TO SEE 5***** MOULIN ROUGE IN MANCHESTER - BECAUSE YOU CAN-CAN-CAN!’

‘EACH DEPARTMENT SHINES AS BRIGHT AS SATINE’S SPARKLING DIAMOND ATTIRE’ 

Our journey with Moulin Rouge the musical began in April 2020 when we flew to Broadway as we knew it wouldn’t arrive on UK shores for a while. We were transformed into the dark Bohemian Paris back streets and the opulent red & gold of the Moulin Rouge. This was an immersive experience with the theatre having a mini VIP ROUGE club, Can-Can seats you could sit within the catwalk stage that stretches into the stalls. Special - you bet. 

Fast forward to 2024 and we saw the show in the West End. It was just as impressive and we speculated a UK tour. So when it was confirmed in Oct 24’ that the show would tour the UK and then the world with a Manchester stop-over at The Manchester Palace we were beside ourselves! 

The BIG - obvious question for us…. Can this show Tour well? It’s always a concern when you see a show in the West End/Broadway where a long standing show can carve up the stage - add in automation and literally walllpaper the moulin rouge graphics everywhere…. Will there still be the same buzz ?! Well - being Manchester - there is always a buzz…. & last night pre-show the excitement was REAL! 

As a theatre set designer my uni tutor Michael Clarke told me in 1997 - ‘Dahling…. You can’t go wrong if you design a show with a ton of red and gold. Those colours on stage just become elevated.’ Boy was he right….. you are transformed into the Moulin Rouge world pretty quickly with the rotating windmill and famous giant blue elephant flanking the boxes at the palace. X10 mins before the show starts the cast begin peacocking around the stage. It’s a great taste of what you are about to experience. So get to your seats at 19:15/20.

The sold out Press Night audience were hyped. We can all remember this hyper comedic fever-dream 2001 Baz Luhrmann film with Nicole and Ewan. The tale of Christian, an English writer, travels to Paris to join the Bohemian revolution. He visits the city's biggest night club, Moulin Rouge, and falls in love with its star performer and courtesan, Satine. 

In the stage show there’s a few adjustments - with Christian hailing from USA. This show feels expensive! You definitely are getting a good bang for your buck… or should that be franc/euro! We guarantee if you love the film - you will J’ADORE this live action story-telling.  

The choreo is truly electric with a highly enjoyable version of GAGA’s BAD ROMANCE that I could watch over and over again. 

Set design I have zero notes. I’m here for it! The show has its on vibe. The set, costumes, props, hair/make-up should - if well executed - transport you to another world… it does this with ease thanks to - Nothing is really compromised in this touring production. 

As we left the theatre a mother and daughter behind me said: ‘Those actors tonight were living their characters. You know when you go see some shows they are just acting their part night after night…. Well they weren’t. Totally authentic and incredible.’ What can I add to that ?! Completely agree. We both thought that SATINE played by VERITY THOMPSON was our fave of the x3 SATINE’S we have now seen. She has to be strong, sexy & vulnerable in pretty much every scene. Smashed it out the park with killer vocals. 

Christian - JOSH ROSE was similar in that he has to be strong and vulnerable. Building up to the final scene we really had been taken on a story of love and heartbreak. We really did feel… ‘THE GREATEST THING YOUL’L EVER LEARN. IS TO BE LOVED. & TO BELOVED IN RETURN’. 

The Duke - JAMES BRYERS was for me the stand out performer tonight. Strutting and receiving a well deserved ‘Booooo’ curtain call!

Now to the Jack-in-the-box rosey cheeked Zidler portrayed by CAMERON BLAKELY - what a treat this must be to don the bejewelled windmill tails! Camp. Kooky. A riot! The ring-master of the piece and he embellishes the part with an air of old school magician. He has that wizard of Oz - hiding behind the curtain-ness - where putting on a brave face while chaos is going on feet away becomes a truly unmissable watch. 

The ensemble when used well really become the glue between scenes. They provide a flow  - not just moving scenery - but add to the story telling experience. They all do in this show. Every department brings as much talent and sparkle to the stage as SATINE’S opening attire. 

With the songs & dialogue - if you can remember from the film - all feels very - very familiar. They used love song lyrics from over x20 hits in one dialogue sequence alone. It’s that familiarity that keeps you hooked on every word & much amusement from the audience.

Fall in love with this musical again and again. The moulin rouge windmill is pretty hypnotic…. And we think - like us - you’ll want to see this show more than once. 

Can you tell we highly recommend this one! 

You want escapism - tick. 

You want a lavish west end quality show in Manchester - tick. 

Great set/costumes/and award winning lightening choreo - tick. 

You wanna’ escape from a grey skies Manchester for a few hours and enter a fantasy world - double tick! 

BOOK NOW! The windmill stops turning on Oct 4th in Manchester so hurry.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical Tickets | Palace Theatre Manchester in Manchester | ATG Tickets