Electrifying rock and a message of love: meeting the cast of MTW’s Rent

Excitement is building for Music Theatre Warwick’s (MTW) latest show Rent, opening next week at the Goose Nest at Warwick Arts Centre.

The play is set in 1989 New York, focusing on a group of outcast bohemians fighting for liberty and against the corporate man. It’s a rock musical loosely based on the classic opera La Bohème.

Josh Dixon, director of the show, thinks the panel deciding this year’s programme of student theatre made the right decision choosing Rent. “It’s a great production, full of life, fun, a lot of emotion and a great rock atmosphere.”

The message of the play is something the cast is keen to have running through the production. Graham Stott, who plays lead character Roger, said the play offers “a message of love and community which is still so important today.”

It’s this strong message running through the play that makes it relevant to contemporary student audiences. Josh observes:“Students have to go through so much stress and this play tells students to remember to enjoy the present and the people you’re with. The musical tells us to cherish what we have while we’re here.”

The musical tells us to cherish what we have while we’re here

“I’ve never been in a show before where the cast and crew get so involved with the storyline,” said Sam. “It’s deeply emotional and certain poignant moments had us in tears.”

It’s plain that the cast have all been deeply affected by the story they’re dealing with. “What makes the show so poignant is that it is full of light and shade: there is as much happiness as there is sadness, otherwise the production would be far too bleak. It’s asking a lot for students to have to deal with these characters, so we try to do it as sensitively as possible.”

The show deals with issues of HIV and AIDS, pockets of immense poverty in New York and a desperate search for identity. “A lot of research has gone into understanding what we’re dealing with, particularly comprehending the disease of AIDS and how it affects people, and how people thought about it in 1989,” explained Graham.

“Understanding the discrimination and isolation that the characters experienced as a result of their disease made us feel for them in ways we hadn’t experienced in other productions we’ve been part of. We’ve become quite attached to the characters, I’m not sure what we’ll do when the show is over,” commented Josh.

The cast have certainly embraced the present and loved putting the show together. Sam Cochrane, playing Mark, has nothing but praise for director Josh. “He’s made something that’s very emotional and could be very harrowing as a show an enjoyable process. We’ve grown as a cast and had a fantastic time.”

A lot of research has gone into understanding what we’re dealing with

The cast prides itself on its diversity and inclusiveness. Sam Cochrane, who plays Mark, explains: “The cast is made up of people from all walks of life. Some have never been part of MTW before, some are veterans. It’s been great to get involved with people who aren’t always in MTW shows.”

The variety of the cast has brought a new depth to the show. “Everyone that we have in the cast has had very different life experiences and struggles. It’s important to have that blend of people to create a community bringing everyone together,” said Graham. “The show is better for not being made up entirely of English and Theatre students.”

The pull of Rent seems to have attracted new people to get involved with musical theatre at Warwick. “After casting, we looked round the room and realised we hardly knew anyone. It was a fantastic feeling and definitely in keeping with the spirit of the show,” recalls Josh.

The new venue of the Goose Nest means that the cast is smaller than usual for MTW’s show at this time of year. “It’s interesting, it’s a really stripped back production compared with what we usually do at this time of year,” said Graham.

It’s important to have that blend of people to create a community bringing everyone together

Rent allows the love of musical theatre to blossom in its cast. “I know that I’ll always want to do musical theatre – in whatever capacity, I’ll always want to get on stage and sing my heart out,” Graham said.

“It’s amazing: I love the feeling of working towards building a show and watching on the first night. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before,” Josh added.

The cast is palpably excited about opening next week. “I’ve lost several nights sleep but I know it’s going to be worth it, we’re ready,” said Josh.

“We ran it for the first time at the weekend and the reaction from the cast was remarkable. We found ourselves lost within it, it was an incredible experience,” said Graham.

It’s clear that Rent promises to be a true musical theatre spectacular, and one that’s certainly not to be missed.

Rent is showing at The Goose Nest, Wednesday 31st-Saturday 3rd February. 

https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/2018/mtw-present-rent/