This is London Magazine July Edition 2026 - Flipbook - Page 52
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Chris Harper
RENT RETURNS TO WEST END
Set in New York's East Village, Rent
follows a group of young artists,
musicians and friends, navigating love,
ambition and creativity while trying to
build lives on their own terms. Inspired
by Puccini's La Bohème, this iconic
musical captures the joy, uncertainty and
resilience of a generation determined to
make every moment count. Featuring an
unforgettable score and a story that
continues to resonate, Rent is a powerful
celebration of community, connection
and a call to live every minute as if it
were your last.
Now Chris Harper Productions and
Sonia Friedman Productions, in
association with Hope Mill Theatre, are
bringing a new production of Jonathan
Larson’s Tony Award® and Pulitzer Prize
winning musical to London. Celebrating
30 years since the musical premiered on
Broadway, Rent will open at the Duke of
York’s Theatre on 8 October.
Making his West End debut as Mark
will be Gaten Matarazzo. Matarazzo
gained international recognition for
playing Dustin Henderson in the Netflix
drama series Stranger Things, winning a
Screen Actors Guild Award for his
performance. On stage he most recently
appeared as Tobias in the critically
acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd
at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on
Broadway. His other Broadway credits
include Jared Kleinman in Dear Evan
Hansen at the Music Box Theatre, Jesus
in Godspell at Circle in the Square and
Frankie Epps in Parade at New York City
Center.
Rent has music, lyrics and book by
Jonathan Larson who was awarded the
1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his
groundbreaking musical. He also won
the Tony Award for Best Musical,
received The Gilman & Gonzales-Falla
Theatre Foundation's Commendation
Award twice and, additionally, in 1994
won the Richard Rodgers Award for the
show. Rent has been produced
worldwide in numerous languages and
was adapted into a feature film in 2005,
directed by Chris Columbus.
Chris Harper said: ‘Nearly thirty years
after it first changed the landscape of
musical theatre, RENT remains as vital,
urgent and life-affirming as ever. Its
story of love, friendship, community and
resilience continues to speak powerfully
to every new generation, which is why it
felt so important that this production
should be led by the voices, vitality and
authenticity of the artists performing it
today. We can’t wait for audiences to
discover these exceptional performers
and experience the thrilling chemistry
they’ve created together as they honour
Jonathan Larson’s extraordinary legacy’.
THELMA AND LOUISE WORLD
PREMIERE IN SEPTEMBER
A brand-new musical adaptation of
Callie Khouri’s Oscar and Golden-Globe
winning movie Thelma &
Louise, featuring music by Grammynominated iconoclast Neko Case, will
run at the Young Vic from 3 September 24 October. Olivier Award nominees
Amy Lennox and Rachel Tucker star as
the titular characters.
More than thirty years after the film
first premiered in cinemas throughout
the US, this empowering, funny and
Amy Lennox, Thelma
deeply moving story about freedom,
solidarity and unshakeable friendship,
has been reimagined by Khouri for the
stage at a time when the politics of the
original feel more relevant than ever.
On a whim, Louise invites her best
friend Thelma for a spontaneous
weekend getaway. After an ill-fated
encounter with a stranger at a roadside
honkytonk, their lifelong friendship is
forged into something dangerous and
unbreakable.
Propelled by a soaring musical score,
they set out on a last-chance adventure
in a world where every card is stacked
against them.
Rachel Tucker, Louise
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
