RENT, New Theatre Peterborough Review

Written by Emmie for Theatre and Tonic.

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review.

Content warning: Portrays the effects of discrimination based on HIV positivity, race, gender identity, and sexuality, substance abuse and addiction, and discusses death by suicide and symptoms of adverse mental health.

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RENT is a cornerstone production for New Theatre Peterborough, part of Landmark Theatres—a pioneering new mixed-model producing theatre focused on revitalising less engaged regions outside of London. With its timeless themes of love, loss, and the struggle for self-acceptance in the face of adversity, Jonathan Larson’s revolutionary production is the perfect starting point for this theatre. It had every ounce of zest you’d expect from this musical which has inspired generations since the 90s.

The rock musical follows a year in the lives of a group of young artists and friends struggling to survive and create in New York City's East Village. The story delves into their battles with poverty, love, loss, and the AIDS epidemic, highlighting their resilience and the strength of their community. Through its powerful music and poignant narrative, RENT captures the essence of living for today in the face of uncertainty.

Directed by Paul Jepson, this production of RENT offers much to admire. Award-winning set and costume designer Amanda Stoodley creates a visionary feast, bringing a vibrant new energy to the show. The friends' apartment, the church, and the club seamlessly integrate into the storyline, adding depth and consistency to the narrative. Stoodley’s design is finished off with some gorgeous lighting from Andy Purves which builds on the emotional impact that this production has. Jepson’s direction has brought new life into the show, adding some new emphasis on parts of the story that have been lost in other productions I’ve seen. What truly sets this show apart is its powerful delivery of the story's reality. Through the use of projections, the production demonstrates how the AIDS epidemic impacted people. It’s a stark reminder that I couldn’t applaud more from this show. Mark Crossland’s Musical direction also brought new arrangements to some of the musical’s soundtrack, which is incredibly important when you want to keep a production sparky and exciting. The arrangement of ‘Will I Lose My Dignity’ and ‘Seasons of Love’ resonated with me the most. 

At the core of RENT is the group of friends who bring this story to life (however not forgetting that this expands into the ensemble as well who are as important in this show!). The relationships are complex and deeply intertwined, from Roger (Luke Friend) and Mimi (Evita Khrime)’s marked by their mutual struggles with past traumas and addiction where as in contrast the bond between Collins (Cameron Bernard Jones) and Angel (Kyle Richardson) is more compassionate and transformative, there’s this unforgettable portrayal of love and loss amidst life’s harsh realities. The on-again, off-again relationship between Maureen (Alicia Corrales) and Joanne (Athena Collins) which showcases the challenges of commitment and trust. Then there’s Mark (Jack Reitman) who ultimately threads them together as he captures on camera the year in the life of these friends and Benny (Myles Hart) as Benny who is also a complex character. He transitions from being a former friend and bohemian artist to a more pragmatic, business-minded antagonist, embodying the conflict between idealism and commercialism.

Interview: Evita Khrime and Cameron Bernard Jones, RENT

In short, this cast is magnificent. There’s so much depth emotionally to these characters that these performers who not shy away from and their devotion oozes from every single breath. Each actor brings their own character to life with such remarkable depth and intensity that captures the true essence of their struggles and triumphs. Not forgetting the ensemble/swings made up of Kellianna Jay, Alex Okoampa, Edward Bullingham, Max Mirza, Dylan Andrews, Alexandra Brighouse and Olivia-Faith Kamau who have the responsibility of building background characters but definitely come to life with Lucie Pankhurst’s fluid choreography and movement. Luke Friend’s rendition ‘One Song Glory’, Athena Collins and Alicia Corrales’ almighty ‘Take Me Or Leave Me’ and the touching ‘I’ll Cover You’ from Kyle Richardson and Cameron Bernard Jones will stick with you long after the show’s complete. 

The only thing that didn’t quite hit the nail with this show is the sound that unfortunately impacted on my overall experience. I also wish they didn’t utilise the stage on one side more than the other as it meant that some people didn’t get the full impact of this show.

That being said, this production of RENT is a clever triumph for New Theatre Peterborough that reminds us of the enduring power of love, friendship, and the human spirit. I’m really excited to see what the theatre produces on their stage next! 

At New Theatre Peterborough until 29 June.

★ ★ ★ ★