Behind the scenes of Moulin Rouge as the iconic show comes to London – Metro.co.uk

The iconic Paris cabaret has come to Londons West End and its a sexy, lavish world of hedonism (Picture: Daniel Lynch)

Were there a category at next weeks Olivier Awards for the post-lockdown showthat offered the public the best escapism, Moulin Rouge! would be a slam-dunk.

The stage version of Baz Luhrmanns 2001 film stuns the moment you walk into the Piccadilly Theatre. This show doesnt so much as have a set as exult in a sexy, lavish world conjuring the hedonism of Pariss renowned pleasure palace.

However, because there is no Best escapism award at the Oliviers this production has to settle for the five categories for which it has been nominated: Best New Musical, Best Actor In A Supporting Role In A Musical, Best Costume Design, Best Choreography and Best Design.

This last one recreates the real Moulin Rouges iconic follies of the architectural kind. They tower over the audience like great mirages: a windmill on one side of the theatre and a giant blue elephant emerging from the royal box on the other.

They are not really necessary, says laid-back Tony Award-winning designer Derek McLane from his New York studio.

But theyre fun. They are part of that insane environment, which makes the audience feel like members of this crazy club for the evening.

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Turning the theatre into a cabaret club where, as top-hatted host Harold Zidler (Olivier-nominated Clive Carter) puts it, all are welcome no matter what your desires, has entailed draping walls in 800sq m of red velvet and the cast in 300costumes.

Satines diamond corset has 8,600 hand-placed rhinestones. It is worn by the casually glamorous Los Angeles-born Liisi LaFontaine when her Satine (Nicole Kidmans role in the movie) makes her spectacular entrance, gracefully descending from the ceiling on a spindly swing.

First, she must leg it backstage to the top of the building. Company manager Anthony Field describes the route: Liisi has to run all the way through the bowels of the building, out a side exit around the front (with a golf umbrella if the weather is gross) up the road

I have to put on extra layers so people cant see the costume, adds Liisi. into another side exit, continues Anthony, up a gantry, then a tiny flight of stairs She then gets changed at the top.

Liisi has her own entourage everywhere she goes backstage, explains Anthony. Verity is head of wigs and make-up, Beth handles sound and mics and there is Chloe who is Liisis personal dresser.

The team, dressed in black with headphones, follows the star everywhere. If I need little water sips, or need a cough drop, they provide, says Liisi.

But Anthony still hasnt finished the route to the top of the building: then up a cat ladder, then shes in the hands of the automation team.

With all these cameras its like NASA, making sure we dont open the trap door when Liisis standing there. Shes very brave. Its really scary up there.

We have a rule that once shes clipped we dont touch that harness until Liisi unclips herself, says Josh Colenutt, automation deputy head. When I first started the job it was terrifying, says Liisi.

The swing is just over the trap door and Im just kind of dangling up there. Liisi, who previously starred as Deena in Dreamgirls, says its a rare chance to sneakily watch the audience watching the show thats what gets me excited.

One more safety check from Josh, and Liisi descends, one of the few moments she is not haring around. Its like two hours of cardio, she says.

And on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which are double show days, by the end of the night, Im just like, Wow. I have nothing left.

Book tickets now on the Moulin Rouge website.

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Behind the scenes of Moulin Rouge as the iconic show comes to London - Metro.co.uk