Karis Anderson and Alistair Brammer are the new sparkling diamonds of 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical'

As Moulin Rouge! The Musical enters its fourth spectacular year in the West End, the show’s new stars Karis Anderson and Alistair Brammer talk about falling in love with Satine and Christian.

Summary

• Alistair Brammer and Karis Anderson take over as Christian and Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical
• The musical is entering its fourth year in the West End
• Anderson recently appeared in the West End as Tina Turner in Tina — The Tina Turner Musical

“I just think it’s the most incredible musical mash-up,” says West End performer Alistair Brammer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. “Justin Levine [music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator] has been so stringent on what words go where. When I sing ‘Crazy’ and ‘Rolling in the Deep’ the words are completely Christian.”

Brammer is starring alongside Karis Anderson (Tina — The Tina Turner Musical) as the star-crossed leads in the hit musical about courtesan Satine, who works as a singer in the Moulin Rouge and falls in love with the idealistic young writer Christian. Based on Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film, the musical is entering its fourth dazzling year in the West End.

The pair, who have an incredible list of theatre credits between them, including Motown The Musical, Miss Saigon, Wicked, and Les Misérables, talk to London Theatre Magazine about taking on their dream roles.

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When did you first come to Moulin Rouge! The Musical?

Karis Anderson: Through the film. I just fell in love with Nicole Kidman’s Satine — she’s so fiery, so unapologetic, but so troubled. I found myself in her a little bit, in the way that she handles trauma — she just stands up, puts her face on, and everything is fine.

Alistair Brammer: I always said, if there were ever a stage version of the film, I’d love to play the Ewan McGregor part. I used to do impressions of him. When I heard that it was coming here, I got so excited, but the timing never worked out. This year, it did!

Anderson: I have Moulin Rouge! The Musical on my vision board: me in a red dress, in a red theatre, with red seats — and that’s from two years ago [...] I’d signed another year with Tina but then it was cut short, and the next morning my agent managed to get me in the [audition] room for Satine.

Have you spoken much to your predecessors in the roles?

Brammer: I’ve spoken to the covers when I’ve had technical questions or wanted to know how they’ve found doing the show eight times a week.

Anderson: I spoke to Natalie Kassanga [the last Satine in the show] a lot, and I speak to the covers. I’ve always wanted the role after Liisi LaFontaine, but you never know what route [the producers] are going to take. For them to be sticking with Black women and mixed race women for this role is really important. It shows the diversity of this show, which is the most inclusive space I've ever been in. There's not many roles for us in the West End or in musical theatre, so for this to be one of the biggest leading lady roles, it's a complete honour. And it's funny, because I seem to be following Natalie — she did Motown, I did Motown, she did Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and now I’m doing it!

What has been challenging about your parts so far?

Anderson: For information on Tina, I would go to her life. The information is specific — you can't make it up. With Moulin Rouge! The Musical, you have to decide your backstory, which is new for me because every show I've done before has been a biopic.

Brammer: I’ve listened to the cast recording so much because my kids absolutely adore the album. They know every word. Because of that, I listen to the album a lot in the car, so I was coming in and singing the part like Aaron Tveit [who originated the role of Christian on Broadway]. I had to get rid of the Tveit-isms and find my own version.

Karis, you have starred in Tina — The Tina Turner Musical for four of its seven years in the West End. Is it hard jumping into another role so soon after your Tina experience has ended?

Anderson: Starting [rehearsals for] Moulin Rouge! The Musical while I was still in another show was quite challenging, which I think I completely underestimated. I forgot that I’m not actually superhuman! Tina was my life. So many [parts of it] were reflected in my real life: I got together with someone when I started the show, I broke up with them towards the end. It was a transitional period. I went into that role as a girl, and came out as a woman. I don’t think I’ll ever need to let go of Tina. It will always stay in my heart.

Alistair, you have performed in hit musicals like Miss Saigon, Wicked, and Les Misérables. What have they taught you about how to be a leading man?

Brammer: Mostly how to look into a woman’s eyes!

Anderson: Awh, I thought I was special! [I’m joining] a long line of ladies.

Brammer: A lot of the shows I’ve done are big-scale romance, and that’s my happy place. The leading man thing is a funny one, because it boils down to being a good person. Staying grounded, being polite, knowing everyone's names — it sets a good example. It sounds a bit self aggrandising, but when I was 19 and first in the industry, I looked up to the people who were playing the leading roles when I was in the ensemble. You have to lead with professionalism. It's not so much about what's happening on stage, but what's happening off stage.

What do you hope audiences take away from Moulin Rouge! The Musical?

Anderson: I love everything that the show stands for. When I saw the show recently, I was on the edge of my seat, bawling like a baby. I hope they leave with a little more hope and optimism.

Brammer: The show is a ride! The opening 10-15 minutes is wild. I hope they leave buzzing.

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

This article first appeared in the November 2025 issue of London Theatre Magazine.

Photo credit: Karis Anderson and Alistair Brammer. Inset: further promotional photography and Anderson in Tina — The Tina Turner Musical. (Photos by Matt Crockett)