RENT
Five Saints Amateur Theatre Company
Bolton Little Theatre, Hanover Street
Until Saturday 


RENT is an iconic piece of musical theatre, originally produced in the 1990s.

With book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, it was intended to be a retelling of the opera La Bohème set in modern day New York.

Stories of love, tragedy and revolution are intertwined to highlight a changing world in which AIDS and drugs so commonly take lives.

It is also a musical that every musical actor wants to be in at some point in their career.
Director Jamie Taylor has assembled an extremely talented cast and a simple set for the stage at Bolton Little Theatre which was perfect.

There was something refreshing about this cast — brimming with vitality and youth. It is great to see talented actors taking on pieces like Rent and doing it so well.

There was visible chemistry between the story’s main actors, probably because some of them are real life partners, but it brought that extra realism to the show.

Jamie Fletcher plays Mark, the show’s narrator, and sets out the storyline with great reassurance.
James Eccleshare is a powerful and convincing Roger. His performance of Your Eyes was both beautiful and emotional.

Beth Eccleshare’s Mimi, a dancer who lives below Mark and Roger’s apartment, showed great passion and her rendition of Light My Candle was very moving. Emily Morris, as Maureen, brought the small element of comedy to the show with her performance of Over the Moon.

Christian Brabin stood out as a wonderful Angel, magnificently strutting his stuff in wig and platform heels — a great performance, as was that of Ian Hawyes, as his partner Tom Collins — very moving.

Bex McLean was great as Joanne and Luke Harrison, as the hardened landlord Benny, was equally as good.

The very talented ensemble of Lily Blundell, Joanne Hornby, John Dudley, Phil Armstrong, Chris Hatchman, Laura Forster, Joanne Burton, Katie Ball, Abi Roberts, Jenny Price and Jack Corrigan all ensure the show’s success.

The very talented band brings further electricity and vitality to the story.

This is a show that everyone involved in such be very proud of.

Jason Crompton