Review: Moulin Rouge at The Bristol Hippodrome
Posted on: 02 Jul 2025On a sweltering July night, it was delicious to dive into the sizzling, red-washed world of Montmartre — even before the show starts, the glittering set of Moulin Rouge! The Musical promises an immersive, atmospheric evening at The Bristol Hippodrome
Having only seen the original movie once, and a long time ago at that, I came into the show with relatively fresh eyes, and I wasn’t disappointed. The initial scenes move quite quickly, and with the opening number — Welcome to the Moulin Rouge! — it becomes clear that the music in the show is composed of countless beloved pop bangers, with the iconic Lady Marmalade number setting the tone for the first act.
The almost phrenetic energy of that medley contrasts spectacularly with Satine’s luxurious, Marilyn-coded entrance to the stage, and I was relieved Verity Thompson was given the time and space to do the song justice. Her dreamy alto voice is the perfect fit for this character, and it seemed to me the audience immediately relaxed in her hands.
As the sparkling diamond of the Moulin Rouge, Verity’s costume for this number was bound to be memorable, but I’ll take a moment here to recognise the talent of Abigail Morgan, (Head of Wardrobe) and the rest of her team, who are responsible for a substantial chunk of the magic in this show.
A classic and much-loved musical like this needs robust vocal leads, and I’m glad to say this production has them. Alongside Satine, penniless American songwriter Christian is played by Nate Landskroner, whose smooth and dexterous voice immediately put us at ease.
Before the interval, there’s a fair bit of (necessary) exposition: we learn the Moulin Rouge is in deep financial troubles, and Satine is forced to lean on the questionable assets of the Duke (James Bryers) to stay afloat.
But after the interval is when the show really comes into its own. The ensemble brings us back with a bang, opening Act 2 with a spectacular rendition of Bad Romance, led by the inimitable Kahlia Davis as Nini and Rodrigo Negrini as Santiago. Charisma rolls off these two throughout — and later, you can’t pry your eyes away from Nini’s role in El Tango De Roxanne.
Many theatregoers will already be aware of the direction the plot takes, but without giving any spoilers, the more dramatic, angry numbers that come in the final third of the show are a real highlight. Christian gives us a taste of his vocal power in Crazy Rolling, and the duets between him and Satine only get more impactful.
Lastly, I need to shout out the spectacular band, under the directorship of Ben Ferguson, who not only kept pace with the sheer volume of recognisable pop songs that feature, but made it sound easy.
Go and see Moulin Rouge! The Musical for a night of dazzling escapist drama, on at the Bristol Hippodrome until 9th August, with tickets starting from £23.95 including booking fees - Get Tickets Here.
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Alys is a full-time copywriter, avid reader and podcast enthusiast currently based in Henleaze. As a recent transplant from the North, she’s keen to explore everything the South West has to offer, but is especially interested in exploring the food, art and culture scene in Bristol.
