Beloved Stranger Things star to make West End debut in Jonathan Larson’s RENT

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The beloved musical RENT, by Jonathan Larson, is coming back to London’s West End, and this production will be directed by someone famous from the hit show Stranger Things.

Gaten Matarazzo, famous for playing Dustin Henderson in the Netflix hit show Stranger Things, will be appearing on stage in London’s West End for the first time this September. He’ll be playing the role of Mark at the Duke of York’s Theatre.

Matarazzo is a seasoned stage performer, with notable credits including the lead role in Broadway’s Sweeney Todd at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

I’m a huge fan of this musical, and at its heart is Mark, a young filmmaker trying to make it big. The story follows him and his friends – a group of artists just trying to survive and find love in 1990s New York City. It’s a really powerful story, especially because it’s set against the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS crisis and all the struggles that came with it.

As a huge fan, it’s incredible to see everyone celebrating the 30th anniversary of this show’s Broadway debut. It’s especially poignant knowing it opened just days after the tragic and sudden loss of its creator, Jonathan Larson, who passed away from an aortic aneurysm in January 1996. It really adds another layer to the story, doesn’t it?

The rock opera quickly became a huge hit and is now considered Larson’s greatest achievement, even more popular than his earlier show, Tick, Tick… BOOM!

Producers Chris Harper and Sonia Friedman expressed their excitement about bringing a fresh new production of RENT back to London’s West End. They were particularly impressed by director Luke Sheppard’s staging when they saw it at the Hope Mill Theatre in 2020, describing it as powerful, moving, and full of life.

Jonathan Larson’s musical still deeply moves audiences, and Luke’s production beautifully respects the original while making it feel exciting and relevant for today. We’re thrilled to share this production with you, and we believe it will be a memorable theatrical experience.

Luke Sheppard, who directed Paddington the Musical, announced today that he will be bringing the 30th anniversary production of RENT to London’s West End. He described it as both an honor and a personal joy to revisit Jonathan Larson’s powerful musical. Sheppard previously directed the show at the Hope Mill Theatre, where it had a significant impact and received a fantastic response from audiences.

Finally being able to restage this show on a bigger scale is a dream come true, bringing the powerful emotions and vibrant energy of this iconic musical to West End audiences. This production features a fresh cast of performers who are passionate about the show, and with Gaten Matarazzo as Mark, it’s sure to be an exciting experience.

Tickets for RENT go on sale today (Tuesday 19 May).

When and where can I see RENT at the West End?

I’m so excited – RENT is officially coming to the Duke of York’s Theatre! It starts performances on September 26th, 2026, and the official opening night is October 8th, 2026. I’ve already marked my calendar!

How to get RENT tickets

Tickets will be available starting May 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM. There will be 10,000 tickets priced at £35 or less.

Authors

Olivia Garrett

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2026-05-19 11:37