Rent – tells the story of a group of impoverished young people living in New York and trying to survive while dealing with their own and their friends mortality at a time when the world was first coming to terms with the impact of HIV/AIDS.

Director Paul Watson believes ”‘RENT completely changed the face of contemporary music theatre. After having performed in and admiring this show for some time, I still find the focus more on the single word “living” than “living with”. A show about life! Something we can all relate to. Viva La Vie Boheme! Translation... live the bohemian life!”

The play revolves around three couples Collins and the cross-dressing Angel, the often-fighting Mimi and Roger, and the always-fighting Joanne and Maureen. The final member of the group is Mark, a filmmaker who spends more time taping the lives of his friends than he spends living his own life.

Rent features Daniel Benge in the role of Mark; with Steve Simmons as Roger; Katie Wood as Mimi; Katie Weston as Maureen; Zuleika Khan as Joanne; Leigh Barker as Angel; Christian Cavallo as Benny and Phil Haby as Collins.

Rent will be Directed by Paul Watson with Musical Direction by Andrew Leach and Choreography by Scott Ponsford.

RENT single-handedly reinvigorated Broadway taking America by storm. It swept all major theatre awards including the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as four 1996 Tony Awards including best musical, best book and best score for a musical. Rent captures the heart and spirit of a generation, reflecting it on stage through the emotion of its stirring words and music, and the energy of its cast. It performed on Broadway until February 2010.

Cast Quotes

“Rent is one of those shows you have to do in your life time” – Daniel Benge

“Rent is easily up there with all my favourite shows.  It is edgy, enthralling, inspiring, insightful and intelligent” – Katie Wood

“Paul Watson is one of my favourite Directors, so I am excited about working with him on such an iconic show” – Bianca Bramham

“Being a rock singer by trade, the professional version of RENT was the first show to draw me into Musical Theatre – a love affair that has continued ever since. My dream role, in my dream show.  Rent is a contemporary masterpiece of theatre” – Steve Simmons

“I’ve always loved the meaning behind RENT, and as a nurse, I love how it connects with audiences and helps to break some of those barriers down in regards to discriminating against those who are different or sick” – Zule Khan

“RENT is the reason I got into Musical Theatre” – Steven Keane