Since opening its West End doors on the 20th January 2022, Moulin Rouge! has already proved itself to be a life-changing experience for all those who have been to see it.

On the 25th January I had the wonderful opportunity to see Moulin Rouge! live on stage; the musical features beloved hits from the original movie as well as a medley of new mash-ups from the likes of Katy Perry and Rihanna. The main cast features Liisli LaFontaine as Satine, Jamie Bogyo as Christian, and Clive Carter as Harold Zidler. Joining them are Jason Pennycooke as Toulouse-Lautrec, Simon Bailey as the Duke, and Elia Lo Tauro as Santiago; as well as the brilliant ensemble cast.

The original 2001 Baz Luhrmann film follows Christian, a writer, who moves to Paris in order to join the bohemian revolution; there he falls for Satine, the star of the Moulin Rouge. The film was an overwhelming success in awards season; taking home, amongst others, two Academy awards, three BAFTAs, and three Golden Globes.

The show first premiered on Broadway in 2019, starring Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo in the leading roles. The musical was the star of the Tony’s, winning ten awards in total, including best musical, best actor, and best actor in a featured role.

The West End’s Piccadilly Theatre has welcomed Moulin Rouge! with open arms, and after recently going to see it, I can confirm that this iteration deserves all the awards and critical acclaim the other versions of this story have won. From the second you walk in you’re surrounded by the magnificently ornate set design, chandeliers and deep red velvet lining the ceiling, red and gold and heart motifs everywhere. The cast were spectacular, from their jaw dropping voices to the insane choreography they kept with for the entire two and a half hours, the audience was mesmerised the whole way through. The soundtrack and costuming of the performance were a sight to behold and I couldn’t take my eyes away for a second.

Overall, Moulin Rouge! on the West End is just as jaw-droppingly good as the original movie and I highly encourage anyone who is able to, to take a trip to see it. It was almost indescribable and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since the moment I walked out the theatre. The whole performance was indeed ‘Spectacular Spectacular’.