If you’re wandering down Oxford Road this week and take a wrong turn, then you may find yourself in early 20th century Paris.
Moulin Rouge is a sultry, sexy extravaganza of lust, sin, and debauchery that you just can’t get enough of, so it’s time to lose yourself in the magic and showmanship of the Parisian clubs of yesteryear, as whether you’re a big fan of the hit 2001 movie, or new to the world of Moulin Rouge, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that you will be blown away.
This is possibly the best show I’ve ever seen on stage.
There’s an excited buzz in the air as everyone pours into the Palace Theatre. The theatre is conveniently Moulin Rouge red by default, so you already feel like you’ve been transported before you’ve even got to your seat.
As you approach your seat, you’re met with the spectacle that is the sensational staging. On one side of the room, you have the infamous Moulin Rouge windmill, and the other side has the giant elephant head where our diamond Satine resides.
ADVERTISEMENT
The time has come, Bohemians of Manchester! 🎉
Tickets are officially ON SALE for Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Palace Theatre from Wed 20 August – Sat 4 October 2025 ❣️
The show begins with the iconic Lady Marmalade song and the excitement that spreads through the audience is almost palpable. Each song and performance gets stronger, more exciting, more uplifting, carried by our club host – the fantastic and hilarious Harold Zidler (Cameron Blakely).
As fans of the movie, my guest and I were initially surprised by the medleys of modern songs that spanned the duration of the show, but they fit the storyline so well that by the end we were hooked. The original score was still present, just with the modern additions woven in seamlessly.
ADVERTISEMENT
For those who don’t know, the show follows young Christian, played by Josh Rose, who tells his story of moving to Paris to pursue his dream of becoming a songwriter. Upon arrival, he meets Toulouse (Kurt Kansley) and Santiago (Rodrigo Negrini), struggling artists in the bohemian Montmartre. Impressed with his love songs, they convince him to seduce the sensational Satine (Verity Thompson) in an effort to get their show on the Moulin Rouge stage.
Moulin Rogue The Musical has arrived at Manchester Palace Theatre / Credit: Matt Crockett (Supplied)
The club however is struggling, and Harold has tasked Satine to seduce The Duke (James Bryers) to help secure funding to ensure the club’s future. Satine and Christian meet first and immediately fall in love, causing heartache and tragedy throughout the course of the show.
Every single cast member is spectacular from start to finish.
ADVERTISEMENT
The performances and dance numbers are works of art and get the whole audience going. The excitement and passion from the cast shines throughout, and it’s clear they’re enjoying the show as much as we are.
The jaw-dropping production is on stage in Manchester until 4 October / Credit: Matt Crockett (Supplied)
The singing is mind-bogglingly good, with everyone hitting every note without question. It would be remiss of me to not give an extra special shout out to Verity Thompson, whose singing was absolutely jaw dropping. If I could sing like her, you’d literally never shut me up.
It isn’t often you see something and think, everyone has to see this, but this show is definitely one of those. If their gift is their song, then I would be happy to accept it over and over again.
Moulin Rouge is playing at Palace Theatre Manchester until Saturday 4 October, and you can find out more and get your tickets here.
ADVERTISEMENT
You do not want to miss this – seriously.
Featured Image – Johan Persson (Supplied)
Theatre
Jersey Boys at Palace Theatre, Manchester – Oh, what a night
Amy Williams
20 years, 65 major awards (including Tonys, a Grammy, and an Olivier), and seen by over 27 million people worldwide – it could only be Jersey Boys, and now it’s back at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
This is one of those shows where you realise just how many songs you know and love by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, but may not know the story behind the band themselves. How they started, how big they became, how they fell apart, and how they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It follows the four boys from Jersey (who each narrate their parts of the story), how it started as just Tommy and Nick and a range of different guys along the way, until they found the one who has a voice like an angel, Frankie Valli, and this started to change the direction of their success.
But they were missing a key part, a good song writer – enter Bob Gaudio, and the creation of The Four Lovers, who then became The Four Seasons.
Mixed with issues of debt, loan sharks, prison time and more, it wasn’t the smoothest of sailing for them, and as they said themselves, they didn’t create a movement like the Beatles. But The Four Seasons were for the factory workers, the dads, the working class people who could relate to them.
One thing we need to talk about, is just how INCREDIBLE the vocal performances are in this tour of Jersey Boys, staring Luke Baker as Frankie Valli, Carlo Boumouglbay as Tommy Devito, Lewis Kennedy as Nick Massi, and Toby Miles as Bob Gaudio.
Jersey Boys is back in Manchester, for a run at the Palace Theatre
A special mention for Luke Baker, because as iconic as Frankie Valli’s voice is, he very perfectly matched it.
The musical features some of their biggest hits including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Beggin’, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Walk Like A Man, and of course, December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) which had everyone up on their feet dancing at the end.
This show is incredible from beginning to end, and would recommend everyone go to see this.
Jersey Boys is running at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 19 September, and you can grab your tickets HERE.
High School Musical at Lowry, Salford – a night spent reliving our childhood | Review
Amy Williams
What a night spent reliving our childhood.
Now, I don’t want to exaggerate or seem biased, considering this is one of my favourite film trilogies of all time, but this could be the best stage show I’ve seen in a long while.
We all know how High School Musical goes, right? Set at East High, we follow Troy and Gabriella (the star basketball player, and the geeky new girl) who meet over New Year, and then become ‘star-crossed lovers’ when back at school as they’re part of two different ‘cliques’.
The duo mess with the ‘Status Quo’ when they audition for the school musical. But will they stick to what they know? Or become stars of the stage? I’m sure you know the ending.
High School Musical is currently on stage at Lowry, Salford / Credit: Matt Crockett (Supplied)
From the costumes and the characters, to the memorable songs (there’s actually 52 songs in this production, including a mega mix at the end), they’ve kept right to the script of the films – and that’s exactly what we wanted to see.
Of course, the biggest throwback of them all is Kaycee Stroh – who originally featured as Martha Cox in the film trilogy – taking the role as Ms Darbus, and she was just as incredible as we expected her to be. And to see her do the iconic dance in the finale was unbelievable, 13-year-old Amy was screaming.
Also featuring Jason Donovan as Coach Bolton, Tobias Turley as Troy, Leonor Correia as Gabriella, Caitlin Tipping Sharpay, and Luke Bayer as Ryan, it was a proper impressive cast all round.
It’s a night to properly relive your mid-00s childhood / Credit: Matt Crockett (Supplied)
There was crowd interaction right from the off, as they taught the crowd a cheerleading routine to be included later in the show, plus for the finale, they had the lyrics on the big screen too so everyone could sing-along.
If we could go and see this show every single night, we would – it is absolutely brilliant.
Kristen MacGregor-Houlston -
22nd August 2025 
