Culture Theatre

Secret Cinema Presents Moulin Rouge!

Secret Cinema Presents Moulin Rouge! | Theatre review

Due to the inherent nature of Secret Cinema (the clue is in the name), the powers that be are intent on keeping the specifics of the performance very hush hush. This is an important part of the experience, ensuring that the immersive world that the attendees become a part of is truly exclusive. A secret shared between the lucky few.

Throughout the evening, mobile phone use is strictly prohibited, exact locations remain undisclosed, and all reviews are restricted from revealing “any details of the show”. The benefits of this are twofold: not only does this increase the public’s curiosity surrounding the event, but it also helps ticket-buyers truly lose themselves in the performance. After all, why would anyone need to check their phone? The outside world is of no consequence while you’re in the Moulin Rouge.

However, it does make writing a review of the night something of a challenge. What we are at liberty to disclose is that a night at Secret Cinema’s screening of Moulin Rouge! is guaranteed to be a night unlike any other.

While tickets are costly, the bang that you get for your buck is substantial. The experience begins well before the night itself, when attendees are encouraged to log into the event company’s website to be assigned a character. The world Secret Cinema invite us to join is intricate and visitors can participate as little or as much as they like, as long as they come in costume. Once admitted into the secret location, the elaborate construction of the village of Montmartre and the Moulin Rouge, coupled with the actors who surround the audience and are completely committed to their characters throughout, will make you feel as though you’ve wandered right into Baz Luhrmann’s brain at its creative best.

Aidan Milan
Photos: Secret Cinema / Laura Little

Secret Cinema Presents Moulin Rouge! is at a secret London location from 14th February until 11th June 2017. Tickets available from £49 here.

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