Rent concert production to play at Curve Leicester this August

A new concert production of Rent will play at the Curve Leicester in August.

Jonathan Larson’s RENT: The Concert will run between 10 and 21 August, directed by Nikolai Foster.

The piece will be performed in the round in Curve’s specially adapted auditorium.

Inspired by Puccini’s classic opera La Bohème, Rent follows a year in the life of eight struggling young artists in New York’s Lower East Side as they attempt to navigate a world overshadowed by the HIV/AIDs pandemic, addiction, poverty and homophobia. The musical’s fierce and fearless score includes ‘La Vie Bohème’, ‘Rent’, ‘Take Me or Leave Me’ and ‘Seasons of Love’.

Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Nikolai Foster commented: “As we emerge from this pandemic, it feels timely to reflect on the resilience and courage which defined the lives of so many during the 1980s HIV/AIDS pandemic.

“Jonathan Larson’s astonishing Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT represents one of musical theatre’s greatest triumphs, defining an entire era through its blazing music and iconic characters. It is simply one of the greats and we are thrilled to present it in a staged concert at Curve, in our epic, in-the-round arena.

“Celebrating community, the exhilarating joy of music, the power of artists and the sheer life force of young people, we are looking forward to literally raising the roof this summer at Curve.”

Under the government’s current roadmap, the show will perform without social distancing however the theatre will ensure safety measures are in place in-line with government guidance at the time.

Curve is set to fully reopen on 1 July, in line with the government roadmap, with performances of Peter James’ Looking Good Dead. Last week Curve announced its plans for a socially distanced season to welcome audiences back from May, including Resident Creatives New Work (21 – 22 May), Aakash Odedra’s Rising (24 – 25 May), Am Dram: A Musical Comedy (27 – 29 May) and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (7 – 19 June).

Tickets for Rent: The Concert will go on sale to Curve Friends on Wednesday 28 April, Supporters on Thursday 29 April and Members on Friday 30 April. Tickets will be on general sale from Tuesday 4 May, all at 12 noon. Tickets can be purchased online at www.curveonline.co.uk.