RENT has announced full casting for its upcoming new West End production at London’s Tom Stoppard Theatre, with performances set to begin on 26 September 2026 ahead of an official opening night on 8 October 2026. Presented by Chris Harper Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions in association with Hope Mill Theatre, the production is directed by Olivier Award winner Luke Sheppard.
Alexa Lopez will make her West End debut in the iconic role of Mimi, joining the cast following the departure of Bella Brown, who stepped down due to an injury sustained prior to rehearsals. Lopez recently starred as Christine in the immersive off-Broadway production Masquerade and previously appeared on Broadway in Sondheim’s Old Friends, as well as playing Cosette in the North American tour of Les Misérables.
She joins the previously announced principal cast, which includes Gaten Matarazzo as Mark, Travis Ross as Roger, Billy Nevers as Collins, Lazy Violet as Maureen, Olivier Award nominee Danielle Fiamanya as Joanne, Jeevan Braich as Angel, and Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Benny.
The ensemble and company are completed by Baylie Carson, Laura Delany, Ryesha Higgs, Montoya Holloway-Johnson, Rhys Hopkins, Shem Omari James, Hannah Macpherson, TJ Matara-Holloway, Ryan Nixon, Leah Vassell, James Wilkinson-Jones, and Kevin Yates.
Celebrating 30 years since Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical premiered on Broadway, the production is currently booking through to 27 March 2027. Inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème, the story follows a group of impoverished young artists and musicians in New York’s East Village navigating love, loss, and creative survival.
The creative team features choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves, set design by David Woodhead, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Howard Hudson, and sound design by Paul Gatehouse. Video design is by George Reeve and Nathan Amzi, musical supervision by Bill Sherman, and musical direction by Katy Richardson. Casting is handled by Pearson Casting in the UK and Jim Carnahan in the US.
