Rent cast feel ‘grateful’ the musical is back in the West End

Rent is back in the West End, marking the 30th anniversary of Jonathan Larson’s famed rock musical.

Leading the cast as Mark is Gaten Matarazzo, making his West End debut, alongside co-stars Travis Ross (as Roger), Billy Nevers (Collins), Alexa Lopez (Mimi), Lazy Violet as (Maureen), Danielle Fiamanya (Joanne), Jeevan Braich (Angel) and Joaquin Pedro Valdes (Benny).

The cast is completed by Baylie Carson, in the role of April, Laura Delany, Ryesha Higgs, Montoya Holloway-Johnson, Rhys Hopkins, Shem Omari James, Hannah Macpherson, TJ Matara-Holloway, Ryan Nixon, Leah Vassell, James Wilkinson-Jones and Kevin Yates.

Together, they tell the story of a community of artists living in New York City’s East Village as they navigate poverty, love, and the AIDS crisis in the early 1990s.

Following the first performance of WhatsOnStage and Olivier Award-winning director Luke Sheppard’s production (which has been “inspired” by his earlier five-star revival seen at the Hope Mill Theatre in 2020 and 2021) at the Tom Stoppard Theatre, we caught up with WhatsOnStage Award winner Braich, with Fiamanya and Violet to get their initial reactions.

At the Stage Debut Awards, where she is a past winner, Fiamanya says that performing in Rent has reminded her of when she first fell in love with theatre: “I’ve been very lucky in my career and I’ve got a great team and have met some amazing people… When I started I was just in love with being on stage. Along the way, it’s a bit of a Wizard of Oz moment where you can lose your way and forget why you’re doing what you’re doing.”

The Olivier Award nominee continued: “But with Rent, building and making the show, I’m beside myself to experience that feeling again like I had when I was 19, and feel that renaissance.”

She also adds that learning to tango has been a bonus.

Braich, who won both the WhatsOnStage Award and a Stage Debut Award for his professional acting debut as Rusty in the recent revival of Starlight Express, reflected on how that role prepared him to play Angel.

“One thing I’ve learned is that actually enjoying the process, actually breathing the process, makes it such a better experience. I always remember to be so grateful to have the opportunity to do what so many people want to do and are doing well.

“I have to remind myself of how grateful I am for the world.”

Violet supported Braich, adding: “We got so lucky with the cast; we all love each other.”

The production also features on-stage seating, something that all three said added to the atmosphere and the love felt for the fan-favourite musical, which celebrated mid-show standing ovations at its first preview.

You can watch the curtain call from the first preview, captured from the stage below:

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Bookings for the show are currently available until Saturday 27 March 2027 at the newly rechristened Tom Stoppard Theatre. Matarazzo is currently scheduled to appear until 10 January 2027.