Gaten Matarazzo to lead RENT on the West End — Page 2

Oh God I just saw production photos and it looks like someone born in 2000 tried to design a vintage 90s set from memory. It's giving Temu 1990s.

If I'm understanding correctly, this is a revision of the Hope Mill production that streamed during Covid days, and I absolutely loved that. I thought it was beautiful, and it was the first time that I invention of the original actually worked for me.

BroadwayGirl107 said: "Oh God I just saw production photos and it looks like someone born in 2000tried to design a vintage 90s set from memory. It's giving Temu 1990s."

Apparently everyone in the 90s wore beige.

Reviews on the West End board seem to be pretty middling. I think Jeffrey Seller was very smart to do a reunion rather than a full anniversary production in New York. It's a show that everyone feels like they've seen a million times (like Fiddler, Sound of Music) even if they haven't. As much as it's adored, no one is clamoring for a revival, particularly one that isn't offering something new.

OhHiii said: "I think Jeffrey Seller wasverysmart to do a reunion rather than a fullanniversary production in New York. It's a show that everyone feels like they've seen a million times (like Fiddler, Sound of Music) even if they haven't. As much as it's adored, no one is clamoring for a revival, particularly one that isn't offering something new."

I would've welcomed a limited engagement anniversary production in New York, but only if it were the original Broadway staging. None of the non-replica productions have captured the same color and electricity of the original. Rent doesn't need to offer something new, it just needs to be good.

'Rent' Revival: Gaten Matarazzo, Luke Sheppard on West End Musical

https://variety.com/2026/theater/global/rent-revival-gaten-matarazzo-luke-sheppard-west-end-musical-1236902190/?

malcs98 said: "https://youtu.be/NgdyDvzrVFI?is=QO7_STzfb1NeDL3d


Trailer is up w/ Gaten singing the title song and ngl he sounds very good here"

I'll disagree, I think he sounded flat lol.

pair-o-dice said: "Saw it last week and loved it. I've been a fan since day one of the show, but felt it lost a lot of authenticity the longer it ran on Broadway. Recently it's felted dated and even trite at times. This production felt more like a Sondheim piece than a rock concert. The cast is fabulous and exceptionally great at playing these operatic emotions with real intensity and honesty. The vocals might not be as bombastic as the first few Broadway casts, and you might miss little moments of the iconic staging, but this production is the real deal. It feels very familiar while giving you fresh takes on certain moments, and has cute nods to the original, and I couldn't have had a better or more satisfying time. This old school Rent Head loved it."

The reviews for this production across the board have been…surprisingly positive. So obviously the real question is could we see a possible Broadway transfer of this production happen?

Updated On: 10/10/26 at 03:14 PM