Pictures: Dujonna Gift-Simms
West End favourites and 2020 graduates will feature in the 12-strong cast for Hope Mill Theatre’s highly-anticipated new production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent.
Jocasta Almgill (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre, Dreamgirls, Savoy Theatre) will play Joanne with Blake Patrick Anderson (Be More Chill, The Other Palace, Closer to Heaven, Above The Stag) as Mark, Ahmed Hamad (The Boy in the Dress, RSC, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, London Palladium) as Benny, Dom Hartley-Harris (Hamilton, Victoria Palace, Bat Out of Hell, London Coliseum) as Collins, Millie O’Connell (Olivier nominee for Six The Musical, Arts Theatre and UK tour, 42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Maureen, Maiya Quansah-Breed (Olivier nominee for Six The Musical Arts Theatre and UK tour) as Mimi and Alex Thomas-Smith (Dear Evan Hansen, Noël Coward Theatre, Bat Out of Hell, Dominion Theatre) as Angel. Arts Ed 2020 graduate Tom Francis will make his professional debut as Roger.
Royal Academy of Music Masters 2020 graduate Kayla Carter, Allie Farrell-Daniel (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, film), Isaac Hesketh (Book of Mormon, UK tour) and Bethany Terry (West Side Story, Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester, Bat Out of Hell, Dominion Theatre) will complete the cast in featured ensemble roles.
The company members who were originally cast in February for the production will now receive a Covid-19 test before forming a single household ‘bubble’ for the duration of the rescheduled run.
Originally due to play a limited season at the award-winning Manchester venue from 31 July, the production which will be directed by Luke Sheppard will now run from 30 October until 6 December with strict Covid measures in place.
Sheppard heads a creative team that includes: choreographer Tom Jackson Greaves, musical supervisor Katy Richardson, musical director Chris Poon, set and costume designer David Woodhead, LX designer Howard Hudson, sound designer Paul Gatehouse, projection designer George Reeve, assistant director Priya Appleby, costume supervisor Ester Mangas, production photographer Dujonna Gift-Simms, make-up and wigs designer Jackie Saundercock and casting is by Pearson Casting. Artwork is by Feast Creative and video content by The Umbrella Rooms.
Announcing the full cast and creative Sheppard said: “This production of Rent is about placing this ground-breaking show in the hands of a new generation of exceptional musical theatre performers, and as we have shifted the lens on the production over the last months, the promise of this cast telling this story in these extraordinary times has felt increasingly vital.
“Most of them have been waiting in the wings since we cast the production at the start of the year and I’m enormously grateful for their patience and commitment. The Hope Mill Theatre continues to work tirelessly to make this production happen in a safe and secure way and it’s a privilege to be working with this visionary venue to bring this special production to the stage.”
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 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’.”
Inspired by Puccini’s opera La Bohème, 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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