★★★★★ – DLUXE Magazine
By Kevin Urquhart for DLUXE Magazine
“Quite possibly the best thing we’ve ever seen on stage.” – DLUXE Magazine
Step inside, dear reader, and be prepared to be dazzled. Moulin Rouge! The Musical has burst into Birmingham’s Hippodrome Theatre in a riot of red velvet, glitter, and unbridled glamour — a fever dream of Parisian decadence that fuses Baz Luhrmann’s cinematic opulence with stagecraft so sharp it could slice through champagne bubbles.
This isn’t just a show. It’s an experience — a full-bodied, heart-thumping immersion into the world of Montmartre’s most infamous cabaret. From the moment the crimson curtain parts, Moulin Rouge! seduces, shocks, and serenades in equal measure.
A Story of Love, Art, and Tragedy — with a Modern Beat
For the uninitiated, Moulin Rouge! tells the tragic tale of Christian, a lovestruck writer who falls for Satine, the dazzling diamond of the Moulin Rouge, as she’s torn between love and survival. Set in the bohemian underbelly of turn-of-the-century Paris, the musical blends timeless themes of passion, art, and sacrifice with a pop-culture soundtrack that refuses to play by the rules.
Where Luhrmann’s film stitched together snippets of Madonna and Bowie, the stage show goes gloriously overboard — folding in Lady Gaga, Adele, and Sia, to name just a few. It’s a jukebox remix for the modern age: bold, camp, and utterly addictive.
Slick, Sexy, Sultry — and Sublime
Director Alex Timbers’ production is spectacle personified. The choreography is razor-sharp; every high kick and hip twist lands like a firecracker. The ensemble dances as one — a kinetic blur of sequins, corsets, and Parisian allure. Vocally, the cast is nothing short of sublime, elevating each mashup to goosebump territory.
The design is a feast: Derek McLane’s set transforms the Hippodrome into a cathedral of cabaret, drenched in ruby light, while Catherine Zuber’s costumes shimmer with unapologetic sensuality. It’s theatre as excess — unapologetic, indulgent, and all the better for it.
A Star Turn Worthy of the Gods
It feels almost churlish to single anyone out in a cast this strong — the chemistry, the timing, the vocal power are across-the-board sensational. But Satine, brought vividly to life by Verity Thompson, is something else.
Thompson is a triple threat — acting, singing, and dancing with a magnetism that holds the audience rapt. She has the ethereal beauty of a young Jolie Richardson or Meryl Streep, yet a charisma that’s distinctly her own. If there’s any justice in showbiz, she’s destined for screens far larger than the Hippodrome’s stage.
The Verdict
“Truth, beauty, freedom, and love.” The show’s mantra has never felt more alive. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is slick, sexy, and spectacular — a champagne-soaked celebration of art and emotion that redefines what musical theatre can be.
Quite possibly the best thing we’ve ever seen on stage.
★★★★★ – DLUXE Magazine
