Interview: 'The Audience is What Makes It Amazing': Karis Anderson And Alistair Brammer on Joining MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL

Last month, Moulin Rouge! The Musical welcomed new cast members, including Karis Anderson as Satine and Alistair Brammer as Christian, the two leads of the show. Recently, we had the chance to speak with Anderson and Brammer about taking on the respective roles of Satine and Christian in Moulin Rouge! The Musical. We discussed what made each of them want to be a part of the production, what makes this such a unique musical and some of their favourite moments from the show!

How did each of you first get started in the world of theatre?

Alistair: I didn't do the drama school thing! I actually entered one of those TV talent shows, Any Dream Will Do, which was a search for a Joseph [from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]. I didn't get to the finals, but I got as far as Lloyd Webber's castle, and Bill Kenwright was a judge. Bill asked me to audition for the UK tour of Joseph, and then my first job was alternate Joseph. So I would do Joseph twice a week, and Zebulon with the other shows. That's how I got into it!

Karis: I’ve been performing since I was about sixteen. I was in a girl band called Stooshe and had some UK success. When it started dying down, I just thought, “I need to stay in the performing industry!” But I always had a love for musical theatre - I did a lot of things when I was young. And then I just got myself an agent. I was like, “Okay, this is the time.” My first show was called All Or Nothing [The Mod Musical], and I played the love interest of one of the lead guys. In the full circle of life, I just finished Tina, which I did for four years, but the original role that I played [in All Or Nothing] was a lady called PP Arnold, who was one of Tina Turner's background singers! That was about eight years ago. 

And what made each of you want to be a part of Moulin Rouge! The Musical?

Alistair: My best man and I used to be a bit obsessed with the film, and I used to do impressions of Ewan McGregor! I used to always say, “If there's ever a stage version of that, I want to play that part.” And this was before I did it as a job - this is when I was like seventeen. It was such a big dream! [Laughs] But it ended up happening, so it wasn't so stupid after all!

Karis: So I knew about the film - just one of the most amazing things I've ever seen! But when I learned about the stage version of it, it was something that I really wanted to see. I wanted to experience that side of being a woman, that strong femininity and using her sexuality as a power. I'm just not that type of person, and I wanted to live that version of being a woman, and I'm loving every second of it! 

For those who might be unfamiliar with Moulin Rouge! The Musical, can you tell us a bit about it and the roles that you play?

Alistair: It's set within the Moulin Rouge in Paris, where the can-can became famous. I play Christian, an idealistic American who comes over searching for love and culture, and he falls for Satine, the nightclub's star. But he goes on an interesting arc of love and jealousy and all this wonderful stuff. 

Karis: And I play Satine, who is the finest courtesan in Paris! She's always navigating different relationships, trying to hold everything together. It just represents being a woman nowadays. But it’s such a lovely love story, and it's a fine edge with how we play it, which way it can be taken.

And what was the rehearsal process like for joining a long-running show like this? 

Alistair: We were very lucky, because we're a new Christian and a new Satine. I've been on both sides of that before. When I joined Les Mis, for instance, the Eponine was the same person staying, so you do feel a bit like you're slotted in. And equally, when I went to New York with Saigon, I was the Chris that had done it before. I had the same Kim, Eva Noblezada, but new actors coming in. So you try hard to start again, even though you've got this version in your body - it's very hard to shift that.

But what was nice about this process was that the resident directors do a good job of making it feel like it's brand new, even though it’s not. We found our version from the ground up, which was really nice. So the rehearsal process, in many ways, felt like being part of a new production and didn't feel too much like slotting in, because we do so much of our show together. And there are a lot of people who have stayed, like Craig [Ryder], who plays Zidler, and Ben [Richard], who plays The Duke, but it's felt surprisingly fresh!

Karis: Yeah, it was very lucky in that sense. Everything that Alistair was just saying was the positive side of it. But for me, because I'd been doing a show [Tina-The Tina Turner Musical] for four years, I was overlapping for two weeks of the rehearsals - that was the hardest thing I've ever done in the performing world. I think it would be hard if I had somebody who was already in the show alongside me, because there would be a higher expectation. He [Alistair] was so patient, and we were really honest and open about how we were feeling throughout the whole thing.

Alistair: Also, it isn't like you were going into a room, playing a part that sings one little patter song and then goes home. You were playing Tina Turner, which is wild!

So you were rehearsing during the day and then performing in the evening?

Karis: Yeah, and usually I would not speak at all when I was not on stage with Tina, so singing a whole new show . . . And it's one thing when it's muscle memory, but when you're learning something . . . I hadn't used that part of my brain for four years! I was overwhelmed, really heightened for a lot of it, but then the last two weeks, I was like, “Oh, now I'm having fun!” And the learning will never stop. But it was a really enjoyable process, mainly because we have so many newcomers, and my lovely Christian is a newcomer, so we were really in it together. We have definitely started something different with the way that we play them, which is fun. 

How have the performances been going? 

Alistair: Great! The audiences are amazing. I've not been in a show like this before, something that could be labelled as a jukebox show. I don't like calling it that, because it's not like Mamma Mia! where it's ABBA songs. These songs don't feel particularly shoehorned in. It's been so well-crafted that it feels like, how could these lyrics not be written for this character in this moment? But the audience, they have that recognition of the songs and there's satisfaction in that - you can see them resisting clapping and stuff! But the audience is what makes it amazing.

Karis: Same! It's so fun and silly. And, as humans, we're quite silly, and it's nice to have that on stage. Obviously, there's some sad parts also, but it's so much fun. It's a beautiful building. Everybody is seen and heard and feels at home. It's just a beautiful environment, so that shows on stage. And the audience, you can just see that they've got that little spark in their eye, which is lovely. 

Alistair: I've never done anything so fun, so bright and so colourful. Les Misérables is wonderful, and it's one of my favourite things in the world, but it's dark and it's black and white. This is just an attack on the senses from the first moment, and such fun! 

Karis: And also, I just want to shout out production on this show! The set is fantastic, tech is great . . . This is a “it takes a village” show. 

Do either of you have a favourite song, either to perform or listen to?

Karis: “Roxanne” by Christian, sung by Alistair! 

Alistair: I would say “Roxanne” . . . [Laughs]

Karis: Honestly, I  rush into the wings so I can stand and watch him! He's so good - it's fantastic.

It's just pulling on your heartstrings, and it's so deep and layered and textured. But I love singing “Diamonds.” Show girl era, give me the feathers and the diamonds! 

Alistair: I quite enjoy doing “Come What May,” because it's just such an iconic, lovely duet. And it's the one song that was written for the film. It's not a pop song. It feels more like a classic duet.

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

Karis: Truth, beauty, freedom and love! [Laughs]

Alistair: Usually, I just hope that they have a great time. That is what I want, because that is what this show ultimately is. 

Karis: I want to lift their spirits, leave them better than how they came. There's a bit of everything! So we want them to leave entertained to the best quality. Because honestly, on stage, I've never seen such a hard-working ensemble.  Every single person on stage is a star - I'm in awe of them all! 

And finally, how would you describe Moulin Rouge! The Musical in one word?

Alistair: Epic. 

Karis: Sensational! 

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