The highly anticipated West End revival of Rent has announced its complete cast, including a new lead for Mimi following a last-minute withdrawal. The production, directed by Luke Sheppard, will open at the Duke of York’s Theatre in September 2026.

The full cast for the new West End revival of Jonathan Larson’s Rent has been confirmed ahead of its opening on 26 September 2026. The show, set in New York City’s East Village during the early 1990s, explores the lives of a community grappling with poverty, love, and the AIDS crisis.

Directed by Luke Sheppard, an Olivier Award-winning director known for his acclaimed 2020 and 2021 Hope Mill Theatre revival, the production draws inspiration from the earlier version that received five-star reviews. The revival will run at the Duke of York’s Theatre, in what has been recently renamed the Tom Stoppard Theatre.

Broadway and Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo will make his West End debut as Mark Cohen. The principal cast also includes Travis Ross as Roger, Billy Nevers as Collins, Lazy Violet as Maureen, Danielle Fiamanya as Joanne, Jeevan Braich as Angel, and Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Benny.

Originally announced lead Bella Brown has withdrawn from the production due to a vocal injury sustained before rehearsals. Alexa Lopez will replace her in the role of Mimi.

Brown shared a statement on social media explaining her decision to withdraw was based on the need for vocal health recovery. She expressed gratitude for the support she has received from the Rent team, her agent, vocal coach, family, and friends.

Additional cast members include 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.

The creative team supporting Sheppard features Tom Jackson Greaves on choreography, David Woodhead on set design, Gabriella Slade on costumes, Howard Hudson on lighting, Paul Gatehouse on sound design, and George Reeve and Nathan Amzi handling video and cinematography. Other key roles include musical supervision by Bill Sherman and Katy Richardson, with intimacy direction by Asha Jennings-Grant.

Bookings for Rent are open until 27 March 2027. Matarazzo is expected to perform until 10 January 2027, with other casting details set for confirmation.