Rent will return for live performances this summer at Hope Mill Theatre

Hope Mill Theatre has announced that its hit production of the classic rock musical Rent will play to audiences once again this summer.

After only being able to perform five live shows last autumn prior to lockdown, the production will run for a strictly limited season this summer.

Tickets will go on priority sale to previous Rent bookers from Monday 15th March at 5pm, and general sale from 10am on Friday 19th of March 2021.

Casting will be announced soon.

Rent is a rock musical with music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson and is loosely based on Puccini’s opera La Bohème.

It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists living, loving and working in Manhattan’s East Village, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

The show premiered off Broadway in 1996 before moving to Broadway later the same year. 

Featuring much-loved hit songs such as Rent, Without You, La Vie La Bohème and Seasons of Love, it has been staged all over the world, including in the West End in 1998, and in 2005 was released as a motion picture.

Hope Mill Theatre will be operating with strict COVID guidelines in place in line with the government guidance for the performing arts.

The Ancoats theatre has firmly placed itself on the northern map for its ambitious in-house musical productions, which include Hair – the Musical (London, UK Tour); the UK premiere of Yank! (Charing Cross Theatre, London); the European premiere of Little Women; Aspects of Love (Southwark Playhouse); and most recently Mame (starring Tracie Bennett) and the world premiere of the new musical The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit.

“It was so heart-breaking to have to close our production of Rent after only five shows, due to entering another lockdown,” said William Whelton, executive director of Hope Mill Theatre.

“We were so thrilled that we managed to capture the show and share it with audiences online.

“The reaction to the show both critically and with audiences alike was truly overwhelming.

“However, we built this show to be experienced live and there is still a lot of unfinished business with this special show. 

“It is with such excitement that we announce we will be bringing back Rent to Hope Mill Theatre later this year for another run.

“We hope to bring back as many of the original cast as possible and once again share this truly electric, heart-warming and unique version with our audiences.”

Rent will return to Hope Mill Theatre from 6th August to 19th September 2021. Tickets will go on priority sale to previous Rent bookers from Monday 15th March at 5pm, and general sale from 10am on Friday 19th of March 2021. To book tickets visit hopemilltheatre.co.uk,