Moulin Rouge! The musical comes to Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre on September 24th for a month, as part of its first ever world tour. We caught up with Cameron Blakely who plays Harold Zidler in the sumptuous show.
I’ve seen you describe the show as inclusive. Could you talk about that more?
It’s wonderful because we have the character called Baby Doll who can be ambiguous to any sex and everyone’s very well represented of any denomination, which is lovely. Because the motto of the show is ‘truth, beauty, freedom and love,’ it’s just very liberating. Nothing’s ever judged, nothing’s ever an issue with anyone’s sexuality or persuasion, which is rather refreshing. It’s all quite natural and organic and it’s a lovely atmosphere to be around as well in the show. It’s very inclusive, both on stage and off stage.
Has it gained any sort of cult following in the way the Rocky Horror Show, for instance, has, because of that inclusivity?
I think it has, yes. I think because the film with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor became sort of culty, in that sense, once they did the stage show, then yes. It certainly has some very die hard fans who absolutely love it and think it’s amazing. It’s got over 70 songs in it, from all over the pop world. It’s a huge mash-up of music that fits really well, considering it’s set in 1899.
It’s visually stunning, it’s opulent, it’s a feast for the eyes and it’s a lovely story, set to beautiful music.
The show has been described as nothing people have ever seen before on the stage. You’ve been in a lot of big shows. Do you agree with that description?
Yes, most people who come and see it are blown away, even initially, when they first come in and sit down, by the look of the stage – how opulent and lavish it looks. It’s incredibly beautiful. The detail on the set is wonderful and you’re opened with a preshow, before the show starts, with all the bohemians and characters walking around on stage, looking at the audience and engaging with them, to get you to feel like you’re actually at the Moulin Rouge, in the club itself, before I come on and entice them all in even further. So it’s great fun.
You mentioned the film. How much of the stage show is similar to the film and how much does it tell its own story or deviate from the original material?
The skeletal form, the shape of the piece, is still very much the same. Some parts on stage you have more licence to broaden and fill out more, which is lovely. You can go into a bit more detail – for example, my part, Harold Zidler, played by the wonderful Jim Broadbent in the movie – is a bit more padded out, which is lovely for me.
It just works very well as a show from film to stage. There are new songs put in, some of the songs are similar and some are completely new.
How do you feel about your character Harold Zidler? For me, he’s a bit ambivalent. He loves Satine but then treats her quite badly.
Yes he is quite ambivalent. He and Satine have known each other for years. They’ve grafted on the streets and been street performers together before. The Moulin Rouge club is failing financially, and they need the help of the very rich patron, The Duke of Monroth, who is, for all intents and purposes, just after Satine. He’s a very wealthy person – in today’s terms he’d be a billionaire – who can just buy whatever he wants, under the guise of helping out the show.
Harold and Satine are together up to a point in terms of ‘we’ve really got to work this guy and keep on his good side,’ but then of course a love interest comes in, young Christian, who is a love-sick writer, who turns all that on its head. Christian, of course, writes the musical, the show they’re putting together that The Duke is financially backing, which has parallels to the Duke himself – the character I play in the show within the show. He’s this quite bullish man, he refers to owning people and owning Satine.
Harold adores Satine but he’s like her handler and will exploit her, because they’re tough grafters, to get the job done and save our club, which is the whole aim of the show.
Were you a fan of the film before you became involved in Moulin Rouge! The Musical?
Yes I was, I loved it. I just love Baz Luhrmann and what he does. His films are always visually stunning. They’re completely out there. His imagery is just beautiful and quite arresting. It’s dreamlike and surreal, almost abstract in parts, which I love.
Did you see a different side of Harold playing the role as opposed to watching the movie?
Yes because it’s quite quick in the movie, as wonderful as Jim Broadbent is. The stage show goes into some more detail with the part and playing him yourself, you get to see what makes him tick a bit more and explore his relationship with the club and with Satine, so I find it fascinating. He’s complicated like all of us are, I suppose.
Do you do research into the roles you play?
Yes we do a bit of background. I usually try not too much to look at who played it before, so you can be a bit fresh and not copy, but if there’s anything you think is wonderful and useful, of course you can be inspired by that.
I don’t tend to get too deep about stuff. You just try to be as honest, given the situation, as you can.
Have you played at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton before?
Yes, I’ve been there with Addams Family and Les Mis, many decades ago – they’d just introduced colour into the world!
You mentioned some of the other shows you’ve been in. Do you have a favourite role you’ve played?
I think so. I’m loving playing Harold. I loved playing Gomez Addams as well. That’s a lovely show to play in, you can just be anything with that. It was such a silly, fun show. You don’t know in five or ten years’ time what your favourite will be. But overall I loved Gomez and I love this part a lot. Fagin was jolly good fun, for a lot of different reasons. But this is very enjoyable to do, it’s very satisfying.
You’re on the road a lot with the shows you’re in. Are there any downsides to that?
I miss my daughter and my partner. But also it’s a lovely way to see parts of the show and get paid for it. And to bring the show to other parts of the world or other cities that wouldn’t ordinarily get to see it.
Tickets for Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Thursday 24 September to Saturday 24 October 2026) are on sale now. Visit: mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
- In Common is not for profit. We rely on donations from readers to keep the site running. Could you help to support us for as little as 25p a week? Please help us to carry on offering independent grass roots media. Visit: https://www.patreon.com/incommonsoton
