Review: Rent in Concert (UK Tour) at the Hackney Empire

Rent In Concert (UK Tour)

Hackney Empire

Reviewed on Saturday 1st February 2014

Daniel Wood's production of Broadway musical Rent is back for the third and final leg of its UK Tour. Despite the production being billed as a concert production, it is seemingly a fully staged production of the show with an extremely basic set. The exceptionally talented cast do not let this hold them back and perform full-out.

Full casting announced for Rent UK Tour

Full casting has been announced for the final leg of Rent's 20th anniversary concert tour.

Leading the cast is West End and Broadway star Kerry Ellis (Mimi, pictured below), who will be joined by Superstar runner up Rory Taylor (Roger). Mykal Rand will join the production, returning to the role of Collins, which he has played both in the West End and on tour.

The productions will also star:  Paul Ayres (Mark), Lisa-Marie Holmes (Joanne), Ian Stroughair (Angel), Kenny Thompson (Benny) and Ruthie Stephens (Maureen). The ensemble includes: Tim Prottey Jones, Joel Harper-Jackson, David Hinton-Gale, Beth Humphries and Kate England.

Review: Rent in Concert (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Rent in Concert (UK Tour)
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 14th November 2013

There has been no shortage of Rent productions over the past few years. However, somehow I have managed to avoid the show for far too long so was very excited to finally see Daniel Wood's touring 'concert' production when it visited the New Wimbledon Theatre for one night only.

Kerry Ellis returns to Rent Concert Tour for 2014 dates

It has been announced that the twentieth anniversary concert tour of Rent has extended into 2014 with Kerry Ellis returning to play Mimi.  The show will open at the Hackney Empire on Thursday 30th January, running until Saturday 1st February before visiting Southampton, Northampton, High Wycombe, Leicester, Guilford, Cambridge, Dartford, Swansea, York, Bournemouth, Birmingham and Aberdeen. 

The show initially toured the UK earlier this year in April for 10 dates starring Kerry Ellis and Nikki Davis-Jones. Last month it was revealed that the show will return in November starring Atomic Kitten's Natasha Hamilton and Rory Taylor.

Interview: Nikki Davis-Jones, starring in Lift at the Soho Theatre

Nikki Davis-Jones will star as Secretary in Lift, the world premiere of a new musical by Craig Adams and Ian Watson about love, life and loss in a London lift. Later this year she will play Maureen in the 20th Anniversary Concert UK Tour of Rent. Nikki's many theatre credits include Standby Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria), Serena in Fame (UK Tour), Never Forget (Savoy Theatre), Lisa in Mamma Mia (West End) and Linda in Blood Brothers (West End).

Nikki chats to West End Frame about what it's like being part of a brand new musical, her time in Wicked and how she's excited about touring the UK with Rent!

Are you looking forward to starring in Lift?

I am so excited! The show is definitely going to be something special. As it’s a brand new show we are creating the roles which is so exciting, the buzz in the rehearsal studio has just been amazing! 

How are rehearsals going? 

Brilliant! We started on Monday and have been doing a lot of singing and the harmonies are just unbelievable – Craig Adams is a genius! The eight part harmonies sound incredible. It’s very hard, much harder than I was expecting it to be, but it’s brilliant and so much fun to be part of. 

Nikki Davis-Jones and Paul Ayres join Kerry Ellis and Rory Taylor in Rent Concert Tour

Full casting has been announced for the 20th Anniversary Concert tour of Rent. Joining previously announced Kerry Ellis as Mimi and Rory Taylor as Rodger are: Paul Ayres (Mark), Nikki Davis-Jones (Maureen), Leon Lopez (Collins), Ian Stroughair (Angel), Jemma Alexander (Joanne) and Kenny Thompson (Collins). 

Speaking to West End Frame during a recent interview, Kerry Ellis said "I am looking forward to the show. I haven’t really got my head round it yet as it's crazy busy for me right now, but I love the songs from Rent and the beauty of being in a concert is that you get to sing songs you wouldn't usually get to sing. I'm looking forward to working with Rory Taylor again who joined me as a guest at my recent residency at the Hippodrome. He’s a rock star and I think the concert will be great fun."

Interview: Kerry Ellis

Kerry Ellis is one of the West End's biggest stars. She is currently visiting venues across the UK as part of her Born Free tour with Queen's Brian May. Later this month Kerry will play Beth in the European Arena tour of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds. Next year she will again tour the UK with the 20th anniversary concert production of Rent.

Kerry's theatre credits include creating the role of Meat in We Will Rock You, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Fantine in Les Misérables, Elphaba in Wicked (West End & Broadway) and Nancy in Oliver!. 

Kerry talks to West End Frame about being back in the studio with Brian, playing Beth in War of the Worlds and plans of touring again next year...

If 14 years ago someone told you that in 14 years time you would have played some of the most iconic female roles in the West End, recorded an album with Queen legend Brian May and completed two UK tours with him, what would you have said? 

Well I always used to say to myself you have to dream big. I have been very fortunate with the things I have achieved and I am still dreaming big.