JADAR

Mouluin Rouge! The Musical, which is based on the film of the same name, is currently at the Palace Theatre in Manchester as part of its first ever world tour. The day after press night, I went back to the Palace for an exclusive press day, where we got to interview Cameron Blakely, who plays Harold Zidler – and is, without a doubt, one of my favourite musical theatre performers.

How are you finding it touring the world, soon, with Moulin Rouge! The Musical?

“It’s very, very exciting to be involved in this show and especially to come here to Manchester where we feel this show just has a really good message about inclusivity, as well, for everyone, whatever their denomination. As Harold says at the beginning, ‘No matter your sin, no matter your desire, you’re welcome here’ – as it should be. So, to celebrate it, not just tick a box.”

That’s very Manchester, isn’t it?

“Yeah. But also, the reaction we had was incredible here last night, ’cause when they like something, they’ll let you know about it – as well as if they don’t. It’s lovely. It’s a very, very lovely atmosphere.”

“Harold Zidler is lovely because he covers nearly every type of emotion. He’s the presenter, impresario, owner of the club. But you get to see the backstage stuff of him, his dealing with trying to keep this club afloat as well.”

I think, in some ways, he’s arguably the most multifaceted character in the show. You see so many different aspects to him throughout the show. He starts off as this big, camp, outrageous character, and then you really delve into the emotions, don’t you?

“It actually gets a bit darker when the stakes get very, very high, in terms of the sort-of love triangle that’s occurring with Christian and the Duke de Monroth and Satine, and that’s not in Harold’s best interest to have this young American boy distracting Satine from, basically, soliciting her to get help from the Duke in order to fund his club because he needs a backer, which the Duke is more than aware of and is exploitating that situation as well.”

He does love Satine, though, doesn’t he? But he’s also happy to exploit her for her own benefit.

“Yes, he does love her. He loves her very deeply. And they’ve been through a lot together. Before this, they were hard grafters and were street performing together. So, they’ve been through a lot, so they have that unspoken language as well; they can be quite brusque with each other. So, others might think, ‘My God, that’s quite rude,’ but they have a history together, which is quite, well, it’s tough. They’re tough performers.”

This is one of the most lavish, elaborate shows anyone will ever see. There’s so many moving parts. The set is insane. What’s it like dealing with that as an actor? ‘Cause if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, you could completely mess up a scene. Is that daunting at times?

“Well, that’s why we have such a rigorous and long rehearsal process. So, the creative team, are just divine, wonderful people, make sure that everyone is safe and everyone knows exactly where they’re going at any given moment because, as you say, there’s a lot going on. It’s very, very busy, and it’s a feast for the eyes, constantly. So, we’re very well look after, so it’s a very, very, well-drilled, well-oiled machine.”

You’ve played some amazing roles. Is there a role out there that you would love to play that you’re yet to tick off your list?

“I’ve always said, ‘I’m not sure; I’ll know when I’ve done it.’ I think I’ve done some amazing parts I’ve absolutely loved. I loved Gomez. I loved Fagin. Newsies was good fun. And I’m really, really loving playing Harold Zidler. It takes awhile to get into something to start discovering, once you’ve got the mechanics of learning the lines and the music and some of the choreography, when that goes in, you think, ‘Okay, I’ve got that motor function of recall, hopefully.’ And then once that’s absolutely second nature, then you can start. You realise you then have time to have nuance, I suppose.”

Now, we, as press, can obviously advertise the show and tell people why they should go and see it, but why do you think people should come and see this show? There’s so many shows in Manchester; we’ve got like a mini West End. Theatre’s quite expensive. People can’t see everything. Why should people choose Moulin Rouge! over anything else?

“With Moulin Rouge!, in particular, I think the minute you come in and you sit down, you look around, you think, ‘My goodness.’ There’s an elephant. There’s a windmill. The set is so opulent. It’s just beautiful; visually, it’s stunning. So, the minute you’re in, you think, ‘It’s worth the price of a ticket.’ When you see the costumes, when you see the performers, when you see the choreography, and the music, all the wonderful songs that are iconic. Beyonce, Gaga, Elton John. It’s just got everything, for everyone. And it has heart. Truth, love, freedom and beauty is its message. And again, as I say, the inclusivity of it – for everyone to celebrate, whatever you are, come down and see it.”

It’s very sexy too, isn’t it? That’s a selling point as well, isn’t it? It’s a very sexy show.

“It is. Sexy, sexy, sexy show.”

Moulin Rouge! The Musicals runs at Palace Theatre Manchester until October 4 2025 and is currently touring the world (with some UK and European dates announced) until March 1 2026 – with more dates to be announced.

Photo: Matt Crockett