New West End production of award-winning musical RENT announced starring Gaten Matarazzo
Photo credit: Victoria Stevens
A new production of Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award® and Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT has been announced to play at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre from 26 September, starring Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things, Netflix) as Mark in his West End debut.
Celebrating 30 years since the musical premiered on Broadway, and inspired by his 2020 Hope Mill Theatre production, this new production of RENT will be directed by Luke Sheppard, who recently won the Olivier Award for Best Director for his work on the smash-hit musical Paddington.
Further casting to be announced soon.
Producers Chris Harper and Sonia Friedman said: “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing RENT back to the West End in this bold new production. We were completely exhilarated when we first saw Luke Sheppard’s staging at the Hope Mill Theatre in 2020 - it felt immediate, emotional and utterly alive. Jonathan Larson’s musical remains as powerful and resonant as ever, and Luke has found a way to honour its legacy while making it feel thrillingly fresh for today’s audiences. We cannot wait to share this production and all that we have planned for it. It promises to be a truly special theatrical event.”
Director Luke Sheppard said: “It's an honour to be bringing RENT into the West End for its 30th anniversary year, and a personal privilege to return to Jonathan Larson's extraordinary musical. Directing the show at the Hope Mill Theatre was a transformative experience and we were overwhelmed by the audience response. The opportunity to reimagine that production on a larger scale is a dream come true, bringing West End audiences up close to the heartfelt emotion and raw energy that powers this seminal musical. This is RENT in the hands of a new generation of performers who love and adore this piece, and with Gaten Matarazzo playing Mark, it promises to be a thrilling experience.”
RENT has music, lyrics and book by Jonathan Larson, with choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves, set design by David Woodhead, costumes by Gabriella Slade, lighting by Howard Hudson, audio production and sound by Paul Gatehouse, video design and cinematography by George Reeve and Nathan Amzi, make-up and hair design by Jackie Saundercock, UK Casting by Pearson Casting CSA, CDG, CDA, US Casting by Jim Carnahan CSA, musical supervision by Bill Sherman musical direction by Katy Richardson, intimacy direction by Asha Jennings-Grant, and dialect coaching by Joe Trill.
