1889, Paris. When Charles Zidler opens his extravagant pleasure palace, the Moulin Rouge, in bohemian Montmartre, he commissions local artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec to create a series of posters to promote it. The striking lithographs Henri produces will make his name – and launch the careers of the performers he portrayed.

John Peacock brings Toulouse Lautrec’s poster characters to life in four plays about the entertainers whose lives were as vivid as Lautrec’s paint.

Yvette Guilbert – Singer Yvette Guilbert is drawn to a brand new venue in the capital city of France.

The Boneless Wonder – Only a shadow on a poster – what is Valentin Renaudin in real life?

La Goulue – Dancer Louise’s nickname of La Goulue is singularly appropriate – she’s a glutton for food and life…

Jane Avril – They called her Crazy Jane because of the way she danced, but it was not an affectionate nickname. Jane Avril used people all her life and reaped the consequences…