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Review roundup · West End

RENT REVIEWS: CRITICS ON THE WEST END REVIVAL AT THE TOM STOPPARD THEATRE.

By Fitzrovia Talent ·

In brief

The revival at a glance

Sheppard's production grew out of his staging at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester and keeps its in-the-round layout, with extra audience seats on stage and the band on a balcony. Previews began on 26 September 2026, opening night was 8 October, and the run has since been extended to 29 May 2027. (British Theatre; Best of Theatre)

For cast, creative team, dates and access performances, see our earlier guide: Rent returns to the West End at the Tom Stoppard Theatre.

The star ratings

How the critics rated the revival:

Best of Theatre counted 32 reviews by 9 October, including five five-star and thirteen four-star notices, with an average of 3.9 out of 5 among those that give a rating. theatre.reviews puts the critics' average at 3.8. (Best of Theatre; theatre.reviews)

The biggest praise

The Arts Desk's Matt Wolf, who saw Michael Greif's Broadway original several times, wrote that this production "stands alongside it, and, in some areas, surpasses it". (The Arts Desk)

LondonTheatre.co.uk praised Sheppard's "electrifying direction", saying the revival "honours the soul of the original, while making it feel thrillingly fresh". (LondonTheatre.co.uk)

Billy Nevers and Jeevan Braich steal the notices

If the critics agree on one thing, it's the company around the star. LondonTheatre.co.uk named Nevers as Collins and Braich as Angel its standouts "both vocally and dramatically", calling their duet "I'll Cover You" "a shiver-inducing cascade of riffs". (LondonTheatre.co.uk)

WhatsOnStage called Braich "simply superb as Angel", and The Independent described Travis Ross, Braich and Nevers as "absolutely exceptional". (WhatsOnStage; The Independent)

WhatsOnStage also found Alexa Lopez "a brilliantly agonised Mimi", and Time Out said her "Out Tonight" "has never sounded so good". (WhatsOnStage; British Theatre)

Gaten Matarazzo's West End debut

The Stranger Things star's Mark drew the widest range of opinion. WhatsOnStage said he plays the role with "a winning mixture of wit and intensity", and LondonTheatre.co.uk called him "a genial guide". (WhatsOnStage; LondonTheatre.co.uk)

The Independent was more measured, finding him "affable and slightly dweeby" in a role that is passive by design. Time Out went furthest, arguing that the casting doesn't work while saying "there is nothing wrong with his performance. It's endearing." (The Independent; British Theatre)

What fell flat

Time Out's Andrzej Lukowski was the sharpest dissenter, calling the production "a formidable vehicle for Larson's songs, but a less impressive one for his story". (Time Out; British Theatre)

In The Guardian, David Jays wrote that the revival "is produced with devotion but, nudging three hours, also needs dramaturgical tough love", while concluding that "the glory of the show is its songs". (The Guardian; Best of Theatre; theatre.reviews)

Several critics, including BroadwayWorld, felt the running time may be a little too long for some. (theatre.reviews; Best of Theatre)

Dates and tickets

(LondonTheatre.co.uk; British Theatre)

What it means for performers

Nearly every review credits the ensemble as much as the headline name, which is a reminder of how much West End musicals depend on performers who can sing, act and dance at full stretch. If you're a musical theatre performer looking for representation, see our musical theatre division. Casting directors can send a brief.

FAQ

What are the reviews like for Rent in the West End? Strong but mixed. LondonTheatre.co.uk gave five stars; WhatsOnStage, The Independent and The Telegraph gave four; The Stage gave three. Roundup sites put the critics' average at 3.8 to 3.9 out of 5.

How did critics rate Gaten Matarazzo in Rent? Opinion is split. WhatsOnStage praised "a winning mixture of wit and intensity" and LondonTheatre.co.uk called him "a genial guide", while Time Out felt he was miscast, despite calling his performance endearing.

Which Rent performers did critics praise most? Billy Nevers as Collins and Jeevan Braich as Angel are the performers critics single out most often.

Where is Rent playing in London? At the Tom Stoppard Theatre (formerly the Duke of York's Theatre), 104 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4BG.

How long is Rent running in the West End? It's booking until 29 May 2027. Gaten Matarazzo is currently scheduled to play Mark until 10 January 2027.

How long is Rent, and what is the age guidance? About 2 hours 45 minutes including one interval. It's recommended for ages 14 and over.

Sources