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Luke Sheppard’s smart production of the classic rock musical, slickly recorded at Hope Mill theatre, Manchester, makes the most of social distancing
The stage is bustling with so much life in Luke Sheppard’s production of Rent at Hope Mill theatre, Manchester, that it takes a while to notice that none of the cast are touching. This slickly filmed production of Jonathan Larson’s electric musical was rehearsed and created with the cast and crew forming a bubble, each being tested regularly throughout the process. The lack of physical contact is not a Covid safety measure, but an artistic choice.
The classic rock musical tells the story of penniless artists struggling to survive in downtown New York, navigating broken relationships, overdue rent and the Aids crisis. The almost total absence of tactility in this production could be seen as an extension of the characters’ sense of isolation. When, at key moments, they eventually do hold hands or hug, warmth seeps across the stage.
