Rent

This exhilarating, landmark musical tells the thrilling story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive in New York City’s East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian excess. Read more …

Inspired by Puccini’s classic opera La bohème, RENT features unforgettable music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson including the much-loved songs Seasons of Love, Take Me or Leave Me and La Vie Bohème. Winner of four Tony® Awards, six Drama Desk Awards and the hugely prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it ran on Broadway for an astonishing 12 years.

The critical consensus

Larson passed away the day before Rent's opening night but, if he were still around to see this revival, I dare say he'd be delighted.

(*) Lucinda Everett, WhatsOnStage, 14/12/2016

A thrilling young cast do an awful lot to disguise the flaws of the show.

(*) (*) Lyn Gardner, The Guardian, 15/12/2016

Overall this is a stunning production of a wonderful musical. While accessible to a wide audience, it has lost none of the raw edge which made it so brilliant 20 years ago.

(*) Natalie O'Donoghue, Broadway World, 15/02/2017

Bruce Guthrie’s production still has bite and edge, there are some great songs here – even if they are not the sort of thing that’s hummable on the way home.

(*) Ken Wilson, Edinburgh Guide, 15/02/2017

While only Seasons of Love truly stands out musically, like those onstage, each song is emotionally linked in a way that both depends on and supports each other in a show where unity counts most of all.

(*) Neil Cooper, Coffee-Table Notes, 16/02/2017

As a revival, this is a wholly serviceable vehicle, but there is a definite suspicion that next time round a re-imagining may be required.

(*) (*) Hugh Simpson, All Edinburgh Theatre, 16/02/2017

There’s no denying the vocal talent of the young cast involved in bringing passion and vigour to Larson’s score, book and lyrics but at times it seems disjointed and lacking in structure.

(*) (*) Kerry Teakle, TVBomb, 15/02/2017