Dom Simpson and Natalie Kassanga on playing star-crossed lovers in 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical'

Dom Simpson’s Christian has a new sparkling diamond as Natalie Kassanga takes over the role of Satine in the West End production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

When it comes to eye-popping escapist entertainment, you cannot top the magnifique stage version of Baz Luhrmann’s beloved movie musical. The production mixes a sweeping bohemian love story set in late-19th century Paris with modern pop songs (70 in all!) and immerses the audience in the world of the Moulin Rouge thanks to its giant windmill, blue elephant, and spectacular staging.

No wonder this Tony-winning show became a West End favourite when it opened in 2021, and multiple actors have since tackled the lead roles of aspiring songwriter Christian and the nightclub’s star, Satine.

Dom Simpson currently plays Christian, and from October he has a new Satine: Natalie Kassanga. Simpson previously starred as Elder Price in The Book of Mormon, while Kassanga’s past shows include Crazy For You and Dreamgirls.

Book Moulin Rouge! The Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

When did you first encounter Moulin Rouge! The Musical?
Natalie Kassanga: I watched the film years ago, and I saw the stage version with the original cast in 2022. The way it’s been showcased is so clever: the set, the staging, how the songs are written into these medleys. It’s absolutely fantastic – it really allows the story to flow.
Dom Simpson: I didn’t actually see the stage show until I was auditioning. I knew the film, and I was blown away by Baz Luhrmann’s artistry – that style of movie musical was like nothing I’d seen before, the visceral nature of it and the sensory overload. When you get that in 3D onstage, we can add an even more powerful sensory experience.

Who do you play?
Simpson: I play Christian. He comes over to Paris from America, and he wants to be a part of this bohemian lifestyle. He immediately falls in love with Satine when he’s taken to the Moulin Rouge by his new friends, Toulouse-Lautrec and Santiago, and we see this grand love story fractured by all the difficulties they face. Christian is a songwriter and he’s naïve and excitable, like a golden retriever!
Kassanga: Satine is a dancer and courtesan at the club – she’s “the sparkling diamond”. I’ve seen three interpretations of Satine, so when I was auditioning I wanted to try and put my own little spin on her and add my own authentic feelings. It’s such a timeless, relatable piece: she’s battling between her head and her heart.

Is it fun mixing the established and new cast?
Kassanga: My big fear was that I’d be the only newbie, but actually it’s about 50 per cent of us. It’s been amazing creating all these new friendships, and there’s been so much love and support.
Simpson: This production has a framework, but we’re also given licence to experiment. No one is asking us to be Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, or copy the Broadway cast. It’s really exciting for me and Natalie to find our version of the show. It brings up fresh elements for Christian and improves my understanding of him.

How do you build up your chemistry?
Kassanga: It’s an intense relationship onstage, so we’ve been breaking the ice and creating that dynamic offstage first – checking in with each other and growing together.
Simpson: You need a lot of trust when you’re playing such an intimate relationship. Understanding what works for each of us in a scene is important.

Is it a challenge learning so many songs, and this huge range of styles and artists?
Kassanga: I love it. You’re juggling all these genres, from musical theatre to pop, and you’re able to produce a different sound each time and new emotions. You go from a big love song to something fun like “Lady Marmalade”.
Simpson: It’s amazingly difficult, but so rewarding. You can show everything you’ve got. Especially Satine and Christian’s “Elephant Love Medley” at the end of Act I – that’s about 20 songs all in one go.

What are your favourite moments in the show?
Simpson: My favourite song to sing is “Crazy Rolling” [a mash-up of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”] – it’s dark and gritty. My favourite to watch is “Backstage Romance”, when we get to see our dancers go full-out.
Kassanga: I love “The Sparkling Diamond”. Satine makes this iconic entrance and I can channel my inner Beyoncé – and her costume is unbelievable. I also love “Come What May”. It’s so beautiful and you get to tap into that deep emotion.

Does it feel different performing in such an immersive production?
Simpson: It’s fascinating because we’re right up close to the audience, and you can hear exactly how they’re responding to the show – every laugh or cheer or sniffle. Feeling like you’ve changed someone’s emotional state just by being on stage is very special.
Kassanga: I watched the show from the audience a couple of days ago, and you could really feel the atmosphere change from one song to the next. People get completely lost in the story.

Natalie, what does it mean to you to join this incredible list of Black women playing Satine?
Kassanga: It’s been so inspiring for us Black performers to see beautiful women like Liisi LaFontaine and Tanisha Spring in the role. I’m very, very grateful to have the opportunity to play her – it proves that things are changing in musical theatre. It’s also what the show is all about: celebrating our differences, and giving audiences all these different people that they can relate to.
Simpson: Our producers really do celebrate the bohemian ideals of truth, beauty, freedom and love.

This is also the biggest party in the West End! Is that a massive thrill?
Simpson: I love that audiences can step into our world for a couple of hours, leave everything behind, come to Paris, and enjoy nostalgic entertainment, epic production values, love and laughter.
Kassanga: Our big hope is that we can put a smile on people’s faces.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical is at Piccadilly Theatre. Book tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Dom Simpson and Natalie Kassanga. (Photo courtesy of production)