Sabrina Aloueche to star in RENT at London's Cockpit Theatre

Interval Productions Raise Awareness of HIV in London with West End Star

Sabrina Aloueche

RENT

Book, Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Larson

Interval’s production of ‘After the Turn’ earlier this year was billed by Mark Shenton (The Stage) as “the British equivalent to Rent”. Interval have taken this as their cue to produce RENT in London. Using much of the same creative team as ‘After the Turn’ they plan to strip the original RENT down to its raw, gritty yet life-affirming story.

Having lost her godfather to a HIV related illness, Tori Allen-Martin, founder of Interval Productions, believes that RENT is still relevant here and now in London over 20 years after Jonathan Larson wrote it in New York.

Interval is working with NAT (National AIDS Trust) to produce an additional gala charity performance on Sunday 28^th October.

NAT is the UK's leading charity dedicated to transforming society's response to HIV. In a talk to the cast given by the NAT on the first day of rehearsals it was explained that government funding cuts have meant that more than ever community fundraising is vital to ensure NAT can continue shaping attitudes, challenging injustice and change lives. With now almost 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK HIV awareness is decreasing, 43% of people living with HIV live in London (over 30,000).

Interval Productions believe in giving young talent a step up. They know how important it is for graduates to get experience and exposure, and how difficult it can be to achieve that. Their productions combine fresh talent with more established ‘names’ in the industry in with the aim that while audiences may come to see one ‘name’, they’ll leave with a list of new ones to follow.

CAST AND CREATIVES

The cast and creatives working on RENT comprise some incredible new musical theatre graduates, as well as ‘named’ West-End stars – all passionate about the project and all working unpaid, they are determined to bring the ‘story’ of RENT to London

Maureen - Sabrina Aloueche (We Will Rock You, Les Miserables)
Joanne - Ambra Caserotti (Edges, Nevermore)
Mimi - Tori Allen-Martin (Hair European Arena Tour, After The Turn)

Roger - Christian Jones (SLP Graduate)

Angel - John McCrea (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The King and I, The Sound of Music (original cast), The Catherine Tate Show)

Collins - Carlton Connell (Fame, Starlight Express, High School The Musical)

Benny - Ben Astle (Mountview Graduate)

Mark - Will Bradnam (Mountview Graduate)

Ensemble – Shinead Bryne, Lauren Tilley, Mitch Miller, Bruce Aguilar-Rohan, Gracie Hughes, Ryan-Lee Seager, Simon Ouldred, Tom Eason, Kamilah Beckles

Listings

Performance Dates and Times:

17^th – 21^st October

24^th – 28^th October

30^th October – 3^rd November

6^th – 10^th November – 7:30pm

Venue: The Cockpit Theatre, Gateforth Street, City of Westminster NW8 8EH

Creatives:

Sarah Page – Producer

Tori Allen-Martin – Producer

Tim O’Hara – Director

Sarah Henley – Co-Director