Rent: The Musical at the Sydney Opera House

Overview

Jonathan Larson's hit Broadway musical Rent returned in 2024, touring major centres from Melbourne to Newcastle — yet Sydney was conspicuously overlooked on the schedule at the time. Fortunately, there's no day but today to fix that, as theatre-lovers now have five weeks to experience the beloved production at the Sydney Opera House's Joan Sutherland Theatre.

First performed in 1996, Rent is more than just a global success. Winning four Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize, audiences were so enamoured that it became one of Broadway's longest-running shows, with a staggering 12-year run coming to an end after 5123 performances. But don't expect the Sydney production to last quite so long — it's on now until Saturday, November 1.

For those new to Larson's work — he was also behind another classic, Tick, Tick... Boom! — the rock musical takes audiences on a journey to New York City's East Village in the early 90s. Here, a group of young artists struggle to create a life for themselves against gentrification and the dark shadow of the HIV/AIDS epidemic hanging over the community.

Rent's cast is suitably captivating, with Henry Rollo (The Rocky Horror Show) playing Mark, a struggling filmmaker and best friend of Roger, an HIV-positive musician recovering from heroin addiction, played by Harry Targett (Dear Evan Hansen). Meanwhile, Kristin Paulse (Tina The Tina Turner Musical) plays Mimi, a passionate exotic dancer, while The Voice finalist Calista Nelmes (Jesus Christ Superstar) takes on the spirited role of Maureen.

Rent: The Musical, 2024.

Images: Pia Johnson Photography.