Rehearsals and stage conversion begin for Moulin Rouge musical in Hamburg

Stage conversion at Theater im Großmarkt

Technicians and stage builders at the Theater im Großmarkt in Hamburg are converting the auditorium to host the musical Moulin Rouge. Until a few weeks ago, the venue staged Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, featuring the railway platform aesthetic of Platform 9 3/4. Construction workers have spent weeks drilling, hammering, and rewiring the venue to recreate the dim nightclub atmosphere of the Parisian cabaret. Heavy red curtains trimmed with gold fringes and ornate chandeliers have been installed above the hall, while a large elephant figure now stands as a central visual feature. Ladders, cables, and tools remain spread across the seating areas and stage as technical crews complete the physical setup. The conversion team has worked at full pace for weeks to prepare the space for the new production.

Ensemble rehearsals and choreography

The nearly 40-member ensemble has been rehearsing together in Hamburg for more than a week, presenting the first public preview of their routines. The cast rehearsed the opening dance sequence, executing powerful and expressive choreography designed to match the energetic tone of the production. Dancers in the can-can troupe performed rapid leg extensions, turns, and synchronized arm movements in ruffled skirts inside the heated rehearsal space. The routines demand physical stamina comparable to competitive athletics, with nearly every turn, hand motion, and cue already falling into place. The ensemble is diverse and international, bringing together performers from ten different countries. Approximately 60 percent of the cast members previously appeared in the Cologne production of the show before the staging moved to Hamburg.

Musical score and arrangements

The production is structured as a musical mashup, blending dozens of internationally recognized pop songs into the storyline. The arrangement incorporates 75 distinct tracks that audiences can recognize and sing along with, performed in a combination of English and German lyrics. The creative team weaves these diverse songs together to form a continuous theatrical narrative, following the format established by the original Moulin Rouge feature film. Theater director Marcel Neitzel explained the concept behind the musical during the rehearsal preview.

We have 75 songs in the musical that everyone knows.

Turnaround schedule and premiere

The transition between the two large-scale theatrical runs follows a tight operational schedule. Theater management allocated exactly three months and two days from the end of the Harry Potter staging to the start of Moulin Rouge.

There are exactly three months and two days between both shows.

With the premiere scheduled for late October, four weeks remain for the production team to finish stage mechanics, lighting, and sound checks alongside ongoing cast rehearsals. Venue crews are working through the remaining tasks to ensure the auditorium is ready for opening night in the Hanseatic city.

Much of it looks spectacular already. And one must not forget: we still have one month. So a whole lot is still going to happen.