Leicester Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster will direct a special concert version of Jonathan Larson’s rock musical Rent this summer.
Staged in-the-round in Curve’s specially adapted auditorium the Made at Curve production of Rent: The Concert will run from 10 to 21 August 2021.
Announcing the latest addition to Curve’s reopening programme, Foster and Curve chief executive Chris Stafford said: “As we emerge from this pandemic, it feels timely to reflect on the resilience and courage which defined the lives of so many during the 1980s HIV/AIDS pandemic. Jonathan Larson’s astonishing Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent represents one of musical theatre’s greatest triumphs, defining an entire era through its blazing music and iconic characters. It is simply one of the greats and we are thrilled to present it in a staged concert at Curve, in our epic, in-the-round arena. Celebrating community, the exhilarating joy of music, the power of artists and the sheer life force of young people, we are looking forward to literally raising the roof this summer at Curve.”
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. The rock musical boasts a book, music and lyrics by Larson, with musical arrangements by Steve Skinner, original concept and additional lyrics by Billy Aronson, music supervision and additional arrangements by Tim Weil, and a dramaturg by Lynn Thomson.
As previously announced Curve plans to welcome audiences back with a socially distanced season beginning with a Members’ Event on 20 May which will also be live-streamed for home viewers and ending with the Made At Curve concert The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Also directed by Foster, the spectacular production will run from 7 to 19 June and will feature a pre-recorded video contribution from Lloyd Webber along with performances of the musical theatre maestro’s best-loved songs.
As seen by home viewers of the successful streamed productions of Sunset Boulevard and The Color Purple, the raising of the walls between the venue’s theatre spaces has allowed Curve to re-configure and reopen as a 533-seat socially distanced venue with audiences able to enjoy performances from all four sides of the stage.
To ensure the safe return of audiences, the theatre has implemented a number of Covid-safe measures including a one-way system, increased ventilation, additional cleaning, temperature checks and allocated entry times to the building. Curve has been certified by both UK Theatre as part of its ‘See It Safely’ initiative and Visit England’s ‘We’re Good To Go’ accreditation and audience-members will be notified of further Covid-safety measures and protocols in advance of attending a performance.
In line with the Government ‘roadmap’, the theatre hopes to fully reopen on 1 July with performances of Peter James’ Looking Good Dead. Curve also recently revealed a number of shows set to visit and open tours in Leicester in the coming months including Mischief’s Magic Goes Wrong, the Made at Curve production of Grease, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Derren Brown: Showman and The Osmonds: A New Musical.
Alongside plans to welcome audiences back to its building, Curve is also continuing to providing audiences with opportunities to enjoy theatre at home whilst restrictions remain in place.
As previously announced from 10 to 15 May Curve will once again share its acclaimed production of Sunset Boulevard – at Home, with all proceeds in support of The Andy Nairn Bursaries in Technical Theatre. From 31 May to 1 June, the theatre will host the digital tour of Aidy the Awesome, a new aerial theatre show for families from Curve resident creatives The Gramophones.
Angela Thomas
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