Hope Mill Theatre have announced that after selling-out the live run of their revival of the classic rock musical RENT in only 48 hours, the production will be filmed and broadcast online to a strictly limited number of viewers.
Captured during a live performance by Umbrella Rooms, the production will then be made available over four weekends during the production’s run, starting from the final two weeks.
William Whelton, Executive Director of Hope Mill Theatre, said:
“One of the hardest challenges we faced as a venue was producing Rent with the current restrictions on our seating capacity as a result of social distancing being in place. The option of operating at 50% capacity during the run was financially completely unviable and meant we stood to have a large financial deficit as an organisation, which at this time we are unable to allow. So being offered the opportunity from the rights holders to make up our lost capacity with the chance for audiences to view an online version of the show is incredible and has allowed us to move forward with staging such an ambitious production during this time. Although it will not be a live stream, we will be filming the show live in its entirety and then working alongside our video team and creatives to beautifully and intimately capture the real essence and heart of our production, so that audiences feel as though they are part of the action. This is a rare opportunity for us and we cannot wait to be able to share our unique and special production with more audiences.”
Online tickets will be available over the following weekends:
27th, 28th & 29th November
4th, 5th & 6th December
11th, 12th & 13th December
18th, 19th & 20th December
Performances start at 7.30pm
Online tickets are available from 10am on Friday 9th October 2020. For more information or to register for priority booking, which will allow you to book 24 hours before general on sale visit www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk.
Previously announced cast includes Jocasta Almgill (& Juliet, Dreamgirls – West End) as Joanne; Blake Patrick Anderson (Be More Chill – The Other Palace, Closer to Heaven – Off West End/Above the Stag) as Mark; Tom Francis (Arts Ed 2020 graduate) will mark his professional debut as Roger; Ahmed Hamad (The Boy in the Dress – RSC, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – West End as Benny; Dom Hartley-Harris (George Washington in Hamilton – West End, Bat Out of Hell – Manchester & West End) as Collins; Millie O’Connell (Olivier nominated as Anne Boleyn in SIX The Musical – West End & UK Tour, 42nd Street – West End) as Maureen; Maiya Quansah-Breed (Olivier nominated as Catherine Parr in SIX The Musical – West End & UK Tour) as Mimi; Alex Thomas-Smith (Dear Evan Hansen – West End, Bat Out of Hell – West End) as Angel.
The rest of the cast features Allie 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 – West End).
The 12 company members will receive a Covid-19 test prior to being placed in one household (bubble) for the length of the run in Manchester.
RENT is directed by Luke Sheppard, Choreographer Tom Jackson Greaves, Musical Supervisor Katy Richardson, Musical Director Chris Poon, Set & 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 by Pearson Casting.
