First Look: RENT at Tom Stoppard Theatre

Written by Jonathan Larson and based on Puccini’s opera La bohème, RENT is about a group of struggling artists living in New York City against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis in the early 1990s. The rock musical opens on Christmas Eve with Mark (Gaten Matarazzo) and Roger (Travis Ross) facing eviction from their apartment in Alphabet City. It follows them and their wider group of friends, Collins (Billy Nevers), Angel (Jeevan Braich), Mimi (Alexa Lopez), Maureen (Lazy Violet), Joanne (Danielle Fiamanya) and Benny (Joaquin Pedro Valdes) over the next year of their lives, as they deal with addiction, love, grief, self-discovery, and illness, with a number of the characters suffering from HIV/AIDS.

The cast of this show is phenomenal, with incredible vocal talent. They strike a balance between musical theatre and commercial pop and rock, which lends itself perfectly to the soundtrack of RENT. A special commendation has to go to Leah Vassell, whose solo in Seasons of Love was nothing short of spectacular. Further to this, Gaten Matarazzo absolutely embodies Mark’s character, and Stranger Things fans should be excited and amazed by his take on a completely different role.

RENT is a show that deals with heavy topics and is full of tearjerkers which are sung beautifully by the company. Billy Nevers’ reprise of I’ll Cover You didn’t leave a dry eye in the house. On the flip side, the (at times much needed) comedic relief in this show was really well executed, with every joke landing and earning laughs from the audience.

The staging in the round is a brilliant way to align RENT with the trends we’re seeing across modern theatre. There are many sections where we see the full cast sitting around the perimeter of the stage, whilst a scene or song takes place in the centre. Their presence and subsequently their absence sets the tone for the scene and helps to create some of the most beautiful and most harrowing moments in the show. The use of television screens around the theatre to project Mark’s camerawork on stage was fantastic, making you feel involved and part of the group.

The 30th anniversary revival of RENT is staged for the 2026 audience, without losing the raw emotion and heartache of the original production. Although set in the early 90s, it remains thematically, musically and politically relevant. The characters are deeply flawed and realistic; every audience member will find a way to relate to and understand them. If I could urge you to watch one show on the West End right now, it would be this. It hits hard emotionally but is balanced by celebrations of bohemian culture that will have you smiling and crying alongside the characters throughout their stories.

The star-studded official opening night takes place this evening, so look out for Head Reviewer Stuart King’s review for London Box Office tomorrow.

Rent Tickets