New production of Rent to tour UK

A new production of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent will open in October, marking 20 years since the show first opened.

Rent will open at Theatr Clwyd from 21 October to 12 November, before heading on a three-week UK tour ahead of a run at the St James Theatre from 8 December to 29 January.

Ross Hunter (We Will Rock You) plays Roger Davis, while Billy Cullum (Matilda) will play Mark Cohen, Ryan O’Gorman (Les Misérables) will play Tom Collins, Shanay Holmes (Thriller Live) will play Joanne Jefferson.

Layton Williams (Billy Elliot) will play Angel Schunard, Philippa Stefani (In The Heights) will play Mimi Marquez and Lucie Jones (Legally Blonde) will play Maureen Johnson. The cast will also include Kevin Yates, Jordan Laviniere, Christina Modestou, Bobbie Little, Jenny O’Leary and Katie Bradley. Casting for the role of Benjamin Coffin III will be announced shortly.

Larson's musical won four Tony awards and the Pulitzer Prize for best drama in 1996. It ran on Broadway for 12 years and was adapted into a film in 2005.

Bruce Guthrie directs the show, which will have choreography from Lee Proud and set design from Anna Fleischle.

The rest of the 2017 tour dates are to be announced.