Gaten Matarazzo to Make West End Debut in Landmark London ‘Rent’ Revival

The West End is getting a major injection of star power from Hawkins, Indiana. Stranger Things favorite Gaten Matarazzo is officially set to cross the pond to make his London stage debut in a massive 30th-anniversary revival of Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking rock musical Rent.

Gaten Matarazzo Cast as Mark Cohen

In a major casting coup engineered by theatre powerhouses Sonia Friedman Productions and Chris Harper Productions, Matarazzo will tackle the central role of Mark Cohen. The character—an aspiring, camera-toting filmmaker documenting the volatile lives, romances, and heartbreaks of his bohemian friends in New York City's East Village during the height of the AIDS crisis—was famously originated by Anthony Rapp on Broadway and in the 2005 film adaptation. While global audiences recognize the 23-year-old actor for his beloved portrayal of Dustin Henderson across five blockbuster seasons of Netflix’s Stranger Things, Matarazzo is a heavily seasoned stage performer. A self-described "Rent-head," he got his start as a child actor on Broadway in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Les Misérables, later returning to the Great White Way for acclaimed adult runs in Dear Evan Hansen and as Tobias Ragg in the 2023 revival of Sweeney Todd.

Reimagining a Classic for a New Generation

The milestone 30th-anniversary production will be helmed by director Luke Sheppard, a dominant force in modern British theatre. Sheppard recently took home the 2026 Olivier Award for Best Director for his work on Paddington: The Musical and is widely known for launching the global pop-musical smash & Juliet.

This West End staging is a heavily scaled-up reimagining of Sheppard’s critically adored, intimate 2020 production at the 120-seat Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. That particular run was tragically cut short due to pandemic restrictions, prompting producers Chris Harper and Sonia Friedman to spend six years navigating rights and working with the Larson estate to bring Sheppard’s "immediate, emotional, and utterly alive" vision to London's theatre capital.

"To introduce a younger generation to something like Rent over here in the UK with Gaten leading the charge is just mind-blowingly exciting. He's going to bring in a whole new audience." — Producer Sonia Friedman

Venue, Dates, and Ticket Information

The production will take up residency at London's historic Duke of York's Theatre. Further casting for the iconic ensemble of characters—including Roger, Mimi, Angel, and Collins—is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

• Venue: Duke of York's Theatre, London

• First Preview: September 26, 2026

• Official Opening Night: October 8, 2026

• Strictly Limited Booking Window: Running through February 13, 2027

• Ticket Availability: Box office windows opened on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, across major West End ticketing platforms.

Quick Facts

• Show Title: Rent (30th Anniversary West End Revival)

  
  

• Starring: Gaten Matarazzo as Mark Cohen

  
  

• Director: Luke Sheppard

  
  

• Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Chris Harper Productions, and Hope Mill Theatre

  
  

• Based On: Giacomo Puccini's opera La Bohème

  
  

• Status: Tickets on sale now ahead of Autumn 2026 premiere

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Gaten Matarazzo performed in London before?

No. While he has extensive Broadway credentials, this 2026 production of Rent marks Matarazzo's official West End and professional London stage debut.

What other famous actors have played Mark in Rent?

Aside from original star Anthony Rapp, the role of Mark Cohen has been portrayed over the years by several notable names, including Neil Patrick Harris (Los Angeles production), Skyler Astin (Hollywood Bowl), and Jordan Fisher in Fox's Rent: Live television broadcast in 2019.

What happened to Luke Sheppard's original 2020 production of Rent?

Sheppard originally directed a critically acclaimed staging at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre in late 2020. Though widely praised, its run was abruptly halted by rolling COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, serving as the blueprint for this grander West End return.