Moulin Rouge! The Musical | Helsingin Kaupunginteatteri (Helsinki City Theatre), 2024–Present
The Finnish premiere of the spectacular Broadway musical opened on August 29, 2024 at Helsinki City Theatre’s main stage, bringing Baz Luhrmann’s cinematic vision to life in a Nordic co-production that previously toured Oslo, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. Based on the 2001 Paramount Pictures film, with book by John Logan and direction by Anders Albien, Moulin Rouge! tells the passionate story of Christian, a young composer, and Satine, the star courtesan of the legendary Parisian nightclub, set against the bohemian underworld of 1899 Montmartre.
The production features an explosion of popular music spanning decades—from Lady Marmalade and Material Girl to Firework and Chandelier—reimagined as period musical numbers that create the show’s signature anachronistic energy. With choreography by multiple collaborators, lighting by Palle Palmé, and costumes by Astrid Lynge Ottosen, the production creates the sensory overload and romantic excess that defines the Moulin Rouge aesthetic.
Performed in Finnish with subtitles in Finnish, Swedish, and English, the production sold over 45,000 tickets before opening, demonstrating the anticipation for this spectacular musical in the Nordic market.
Set Design Vision
takis’ set design for the Helsinki production creates the decadent, over-the-top world of the Moulin Rouge—the famous Parisian cabaret that became synonymous with Belle Époque excess, bohemian artistry, and the birth of modern entertainment. The design must evoke the windmill-topped façade of the actual Moulin Rouge, the plush red interiors of the cabaret theater, the bohemian garrets of Montmartre artists, the gothic tower where Christian writes, and the Duke’s opulent box.
The production’s visual signature involves layered textures, rich colors, and theatrical excess: red velvet, gold detailing, theatrical drapery, period architectural elements, and the kind of visual maximalism that makes Moulin Rouge! instantly recognizable. The design supports extensive choreography, aerial work, and rapid scene transitions that maintain the show’s relentless pacing and energy.
The challenge involves creating a Belle Époque Paris that feels both historically grounded and theatrically heightened—a world where turn-of-the-century aesthetics collide with contemporary pop music sensibilities. The design allows for spectacular production numbers on the main stage while facilitating intimate romantic scenes that anchor the show’s emotional core.
The overall approach creates an immersive environment where audiences feel transported to the most famous nightclub in theatrical history, experiencing the intoxicating blend of art, commerce, passion, and tragedy that defines the Moulin Rouge mythology.
Creative Team
- Set Designer: takis
- Director: Anders Albien
- Costume Designer: Astrid Lynge Ottosen
- Lighting Designer: Palle Palmé
- Choreographers: J. Widegren, Z. Odelstål, K. McDonald
- Book: John Logan
- Based on the Paramount Pictures film by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce
- Main Cast: Jennie Storbacka (Satine), Martti Manninen (Christian), Risto Kaskilahti
Production Context
Moulin Rouge! The Musical opened on Broadway in 2019, winning 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and has since become one of the most successful contemporary musicals, with productions in London’s West End, Australia, and touring North America. The show’s signature approach—taking popular songs from multiple eras and reimagining them within the Belle Époque setting—creates a unique theatrical experience where contemporary audiences recognize beloved songs while being transported to historical Paris.
The Nordic co-production represents the show’s expansion into non-English-speaking markets, demonstrating how the visual spectacle and familiar song catalog can transcend language barriers. The Finnish production at Helsinki City Theatre—one of Finland’s major theatrical institutions—represents significant investment in bringing large-scale Broadway spectacle to Nordic audiences.
The show’s themes of artistic passion, commercial exploitation, class barriers, and doomed romance resonate universally, while its celebration of bohemian creativity and theatrical excess speaks to enduring fascinations with Belle Époque Paris as a moment of artistic innovation and cultural transformation. Moulin Rouge! continues the legacy of the actual cabaret, which has inspired countless artistic works since opening in 1889, maintaining its status as the ultimate symbol of Parisian nightlife and artistic bohemianism.