The 12-strong cast of Hope Mill Theatre’s highly-anticipated new production of Rent will form a ‘bubble’ for the rescheduled run at the award-winning Manchester venue.
Originally due to play a limited season from 31 July 2020, the team at Hope Mill has confirmed the production will now run from 30 October until 6 December with strict Covid measures in place. The actors who will be Covid tested and will form a ‘cast bubble’ for the entire run will be announced soon.
Commenting on the decision to reschedule the production, William Whelton, executive director of Hope Mill Theatre, said: “The past few months have been a whirlwind of highs and lows for our venue. We have worked so hard to make Rent possible along with the support of the wider creative team, the cast and our own venue staff.
“We stated previously that we would not proceed with the production if we couldn’t do it in a safe and secure way for everyone involved including our audiences. After a lot of investment in equipment and working alongside a health and safety officer we are more than confident that we can deliver not only an incredible production but one that is Covid-secure and enjoyable for everyone involved.
“We want nothing more than to have our doors open once more and welcome back our loyal and supportive audiences, as well as supporting the industry that we love so much at a time that they need us the most. After all we must ‘Measure in Love’.”
Social distancing safety measures mean the venue will be operating at 50% capacity with audience rows spaced two metres apart and a transparent safety screen separating separate bookings.
Other measures in place will include hand sanitising stations, extra toilets, staggered arrival times and temperature checks on arrival. The theatre space will be thoroughly cleaned before each performance and audience members will be asked to wear face coverings or visors for those who are exempt.
In accordance with current guidelines the venue will not accept bookings of groups of more than six from different households and details of each ticketholder will be collected to comply with NHS Test & Trace.
Some performances are already sold out with others close to selling out after ticketholders for the production’s original were contacted and offered new dates.
Commenting on the plans for the production earlier this year, director Luke Sheppard said: “The strong themes of love and hope that drive the piece have never felt more vital. The production we have planned will be a celebration of what it means to experience live theatre, and I look forward daily to sitting in this amazing space on opening night.”
Sheppard heads a creative team that includes: choreographer Tom Jackson Greaves, musical director Katy Richardson, set and costume designer David Woodhead, LX designer Howard Hudson, sound designer Paul Gatehouse and casting is by Pearson Casting.
Inspired by Puccini’s opera La Bohème, Jonathan Larson’s critically-acclaimed work won four Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1996.
Rent has book, music and lyrics by Larson, musical arrangements by Steve Skinner, original concept and additional lyrics by Billy Aronson, music supervision and additional arrangements by Tim Weil and dramaturg is Lynn Thomson.
Angela Thomas
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