‘Rent’ casting announced for upcoming revival at Hope Mill Theatre

The production will open in Manchester next month, starring famous West End faces.

UPDATE: Due to a new national lockdown, performances of Rent from 4 November are cancelled. However, a digital stream of the production is still confirmed.

Casting for the revival of Rent at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre has been announced. Initially scheduled to open this summer, the production will now enjoy a winter run at the Manchester theatre, with performances beginning next month.

Two Six queens will reunite for the show, as Millie O' Connell will play Maureen, with Maiya Quansah-Breed as Mimi. The pair earned their first Olivier nomination in 2019 for best supporting actress in a musical for their performances as Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr respectively.

Previously playing Michael in Be More Chill at The Other Palace, Blake Patrick Anderson will play Mark. & Juliet's Jocasta Almgill will play Joanne, Hamilton's Dom Hartley-Harris will play Collins, Dear Evan Hansen's Alex Thomas-Smith will play Angel, Ahmed Hamad will play Benny and Tom Francis will make his professional debut as Roger.

The cast is completed by Kayla Carter, Allie Farrell-Daniel, Isaac Hesketh and Bethany Terry.

Based on Puccini's La Bohème, Rent follows a group of young artists living in 1980s New York, in a world where more people are dying of HIV/AIDs. The musical made its UK premiere in 1998, with songs including "Out Tonight", "Take Me or Leave Me" and "One Song Glory".

Hope Mill Theatre will release tickets to watch Rent online. Online tickets will be available for weekend performances from 27 November - 20 December.

Rent is at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre, with performances from 30 October to 6 December.

^{Photo credit: (Courtesy of Hope Mill Theatre)}