Stranger Things’ Gaten Matarazzo Confirmed For West End Rent Revival

Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo is poised to make his West End debut in a new revival of Rent.

On Monday morning, it was announced that Gaten will play Mark Cohen in the new production, a role previously portrayed on stage by the likes of Anthony Rapp, Oliver Thornton and Neil Patrick Harris.

The new production coincides with Rent’s 30th anniversary, and will run at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 26 September.

Director Luke Sheppard enthused: “This is Rent in the hands of a new generation of performers who love and adore this piece, and with Gaten Matarazzo playing Mark, it promises to be a thrilling experience.”

Rent centres around a group of struggling artists in New York’s East Village, and is loosely based on the Puccini opera La Bohème.

Telling the story of a year in the group’s lives, the show explores themes including sexuality, addiction and HIV, and has become renowned for its soundtrack, including musical theatre staples Seasons Of Love, La Vie Bohème and Take Me Or Leave Me.

Producers Chris Harper and Sonia Friedman said they were “absolutely delighted to be bringing Rent back to the West End”, noting: “Jonathan Larson’s musical remains as powerful and resonant as ever, and Luke has found a way to honour its legacy while making it feel thrillingly fresh for today’s audiences.

“We cannot wait to share this production and all that we have planned for it. It promises to be a truly special theatrical event.”

More casting announcements will be announced in due course, with tickets for the production now on sale.

Gaten is best known for his performance as Dustin Henderson in the hit Netflix sci-fi drama, a role he began playing when he was still in his early teens.

However, he actually began his career as a child actor on Broadway, in the casts of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert and Les Misérables.

Since his rise to fame in Stranger Things, the 23-year-old has also continued to act on stage in Broadway productions of shows including Dear Evan Hansen and Sweeney Todd.

He is also due to appear in the new Lin-Manuel Miranda movie adaptation of the musical Octet, alongside the likes of Rachel Zegler, Jonathan Groff, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Amanda Seyfried and Tramell Tillman.