Rent

an absolutely stunning production of Jonathan Larson's masterpiece. I sobbed through most of it. Emotionally effective staging, great cast chemistry, and such wonderful voices & acting all around! Lewis Carlyon, in particular, is hands down the best Roger I've ever seen, absolutely nailing the fragile balance between tender/playful/broken. A million stars!

A rather disappointing production with a few questionable casting decisions.

I can sum up the show very simply by saying I have NEVER seen Rent in any media, live or the movie but I am familiar with the music and story. Full credit to this cast and crew I will forever be comparing other productions I see to this one. The strength of the singing and harmonies alone would've been enough to present this as a solid Rent: In Concert production but the passion in the performers throughout was a sight to behold. Congratulations!!

Having seen rent for a second time last night, I thought that the story could lack the impact it had on me initially. However, I was very quickly proven wrong.
This show had so much heart and grit as the original broadway cast, forcing you to become fully immersed into the world the show lived in.
The general ensemble were incredible with such a dedication to the characters while having outstanding vocals throughout.
A special shoutout must go to Marc Robertson who was playing several different characters throughout the show and was able to show off an incredible amount of diverse acting, bringing something completely unique to each character, making you forget at times that you were watching the same actor.
While the ensemble were amazing, the performances from the principal characters were breath taking.
Lewis Carlyon is one of the most capable and captivating performers I have seen in a very long time. He is able to bring the pain of Roger’s character onto the stage in such a beautiful and heartbreaking way. Not only that, but his powerhouse of a voice really forces you not to take your eyes off him at any point.
The relationship between Angel and Collins is beautifully developed as the show goes on. Morgan Flannigan really delivers as the character of Angel, making it nearly impossible to fall in love with them as the show goes on. The song ‘I’ll cover you’ is one of the most beautifully performed numbers performed in this production and worth the entry fee alone.
Shannon Daly as Joanne is a perfect casting choice. Her voice is absolutely incredible with an unbelievable range. She portrays Joanne in such a sincere way with ‘Tango Maureen’ being a great example of her singing and acting chops.
However, for me, the show stealing performance was from Orla McDonald Russell as Maureen. Despite starting out in the ensemble, as soon as the character of Maureen enters the show, you wish she had been there from the start. With such a dedication to the character, it’s was impossible not to be enthralled with her performance. ‘Over the moon’ can be a tricky number, with the possibility of losing the crowd being a very real one. However, at no point could you take your eyes off of this performance. Making you laugh until your stomach hurts and then the beautiful emotional acting at the end, this performer is a joy to watch. Her voice is also outstanding, bringing a grittiness to the character that works and blends so well in songs like ‘take me or leave me’, this is a performance you don’t want to miss.
Of course, all of the cast are incredible and I will never run out of great things to say about this performance.
Congratulations to the creative team, who managed to find clever ways to bring a very well known show, feel fresh.
I could not recommend this production enough, so don’t do yourself a disservice, before you never have the chance again on Sunday, please go and see this amazing show!

Having watched this show professionally several times I went a long with low expectations. How wrong could I have been! From the moment it started to the final song I was transfixed. The energy and professionalism oozed from the stage.The characters were well cast and ensemble outstanding. The harmonies beautifully sung. I wish I could go again. Stand out performances for me definitely go the actors playing Angel, Collins and Roger. The chemistry and relationships between Angel & Collins totally believable. Angel in particular just shone. A skilled actor, dancer and singer. This young performer has a great career ahead of them. If you get the chance. See this show. You won’t be disappointed . I’m
a middle aged musical lover. I watch a lot of shows, I really loved this one. Laughing one minute, crying the next.

Left this show tonight with a new found love for Rent. Booked a couple of shows at the fringe whilst on holiday here and I think this one is a firm favourite. I was entertained throughout, laughing one minute and crying the next. Just a few of my favourite performances included La vie Boheme, Today 4 U, and the I’ll cover you reprise broke my heart. Whilst a lot of the reviews here are positive I was quite shocked to see a couple of bad reviews, never the sort of person to judge an opinion but in this case your opinion is WRONG! I was also saddened to see people don’t think this cast can receive praise from people who aren’t related to them or friends with them. I don’t know what these people saw but what I saw tonight was nothing short of spectacular.

I made a last minute decision to see this show tonight and I am so happy I did. This was such an energetic and well directed show that I can tell a lot of hard work was put into. Collins and Angel in particular caught my eye whilst watching, Angel’s performance was so charismatic and lovable, whilst Collins voice was so mesmerising. I can’t fault any of the performers on that stage and contrary to popular belief in a couple of these reviews, this is not coming from a friend or family member! Just a local who enjoys the fringe, and productions like this remind me why I do. A brilliant show.

Not friends or family here, just a woman from Leeds visiting Edinburgh for the fringe festival.
I was not going to leave a review as I couldn’t figure it out, but I had a skim through other reviews and understood I had to leave one. A few reviews I have read really begs the question whether these people have ever really been to this show. The show I saw last night was phenomenal, there are really no words. Every single lead was perfect, ensemble members made the little parts make sense. I was in stitches one moment at marks mother, and then balling my eyes out the next. I think this may be my favourite rendition of Rent I have ever seen, I cried the whole second half and most of the taxi back. If you have a chance, go and watch this show, you’ll only be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t. Thank you to the cast and team for putting this on, I feel lucky to have witnessed.

Incredible rendition of Rent by a remarkable group of talented performers.
Lewis Carlyon gave absolutely everything on that stage as Roger and Sam Johnston played a super likeable and convincing Mark.
Morgan Flannigan is such a watchable actor, showing us an impressively dynamic and touching Angel. The talented Sean Fitzpatrick supported Angels position in the group perfectly as Collins, helping to really bring the character to life.
The character of Maureen was perfectly casted as Orla McDonald Russell, with a perfect combination of outstanding vocal talent and comedic timing.
Standout vocals from Mimi (Roisin Cauldfield) were genuinely jaw-dropping and were complimented perfectly by each member of the cast.
The harmonies in this show were absolutely beautiful, leaving the audience in awe on several occasions.
Becca Wickstead and Linzi Devers should be incredibly proud of the special production they have brought to the fringe, of course not possible without the fantastic and diverse talent of the cast.

Rent is such a hard hitting show today and bravo to this cast for making my heart full and break all at the same time. From start to finish I was ENTHRALLED by this production, both principals and ensemble equally. Would highly, HIGHLY recommend seeing this show before the fringe finishes, beware as you will laugh, cry and cheer at this beautiful rendition! Well done to all cast and crew for producing this, dare I say it, masterpiece.

I have seen this production twice now and both times it was absolutely fantastic. It had me laughing one minute and crying the next. All of the cast from principals to ensemble were absolutely brilliant and really embodied their characters well. I have seen a few local amateur productions of RENT but this one was just simply wonderful. A lot of hard work, care and dedication has gone into this show. Well done to all cast and crew

Firstly I would like to know how many of these reviews were written by friends or family! It was not an amazing show, I will say I loved the casts energy and the ensemble singing was strong, Roger and Mimi were in my opinion the best, Mimi had a lovely voice and was believable, Roger had a great tone and his acting was strong,Collins gave a great acting performance and I liked his voice in parts, Angel I’m afraid was weak as was Maureen who screamed her way through the show unfortunately, I would have preferred to see some of the ensemble members with bigger parts the blond girl had a gorgeous voice.
Overall it wasn’t the worse show I have ever seen I just think it was too big an ask for some of these young performers.

Absolutely amazing show! 10/10 talent and passion from the whole cast. Mimi was unbelievable

What a fabulously talented cast with amazing voices. Beautiful harmonies and not a weak link among them. Highly recommended.

Loved it ! What an incredible production: 10/10. I’m not one for musicals, but this was such a great watch. I can’t wait to bring the rest of me family along to see it, I know my Uncle Juby will have a smashing time

This is an amateur production from a small company, but if you were to put this cast on Broadway, you would never realise, such is the immense, immense of talent, skill and passion on display. It's telling that the reviews keep singling out a different performer each time, because almost any one of these performers could fairly be called the stand-out star of the show - on the night that I went, I think I'll go with Joanne for MVP. However, I want to give some attention to some of the more overlooked parts of the cast. Though technically one of the lead characters, Benny doesn't get a lot of stage time in Rent, but the actor playing him still makes his moments count, imbuing the character with the perfect amount of sleaze and slime, while still allowing occasional glimpses of his humanity. The ensemble, too, are so striking that from a distance you might mistake them for the lead cast - and their range so impressive, that despite most of them playing multiple different minor characters, it never feels jarring. This is one of the most impressive productions I have ever seen at the Fringe, and if you have the opportunity to see it, I cannot urge you enough to do so.

WOW! What an incredible show! The songs in the show really portrays these characters and their struggles so naturally. I’m not sure where to begin, but i’ll start with the amazing Maureen and Joanne. Their rendition of “Take me Or Leave me” showcases their Beautiful struggles in their relationship through such an incredibly hard song to Perform but WOW do they do it justice. Couldn’t Fault this song. Another Favourite of mine was the STUNNING performances of Angel and Collins. “I’ll Cover You Reprise” performed by Collins and the Rent Cast had me SOBBING. Finally Mimi and Roger. WOW WOW WOW. Roger’s massive powerful voice mixed with Mimi’s Gorgeous sweet tone sets the whole show with “Light my Candle”. Truly Incredible Leads of the show and the whole Rent Cast should pat themselves on the back for a truly Beautiful, mesmerising show.
I’ll be back before the final run on the 25th!

What an incredible production and performance of Rent, an absolute must see! The cast are all so talented and gave 100%. Mimi and Angel in particular moved me to tears with their performances.

INCREDIBLE! A must see!

This musical is without a doubt one of the best. I never leave reviews but I saw Rent recently and honestly it was amazing. The entire cast are so talented, the vocals are unbelievable & the production team have really put together a special show.
If you’re looking for anything to see whilst you’re in Edinburgh, it has to be this! I cannot recommend it enough!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️WOW BEYOND WOW.

Not seen a full cast that has been all round this talented in a while! Everyone was such strong singers and actors that really brought the show to life. Loved it so much I’m itching to go back again!! The cast and productive team should be really proud of what they have produced as it is true art.

As for individual characters Mimi was just insane! Such a talented human because my gosh what a voice. Maureen and Joanne were such a fabulous pairing and portrayed their characters SO WELL! Roger was such a strong actor and really made you believe the story, alongside the stage presence of Mark! The editing using the tech really just made for an even more emotionally impacting show.

YOU HAVE TO SEE IT

This production of Rent was honestly so incredible, so much so I had to go back to see it again!! Everyone was cast to perfection and their vocal and acting talents were beyond amazing. They all had be sobbing one minute and laughing the next, and put on a show that will stay with me forever. I couldn’t recommend this show enough, and have told everyone I know and speak to that they have to go and see this production of Rent!

The only good thing about this was the cast that was good because … well, they’re talented actors to begin with. But the creative team didn’t seem to give them any directions in acting nor singing. Had to cringe at how bad/unhealthy some of the singing was, whoever the MD is should learn something about how to actually guide the performers through a show.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (only because the cast are doing their best to save the show)

Not great. Didn’t enjoy this production. Roger and Mimi were good. Benny was boring. Maureen is vocally unwell 3/10

An absolutely phenomenal production from an absolutely phenomenal cast - one of the best I've ever seen. I want to give particular praise to the actress playing Maureen - it's very easy for the character to come across as grating and annoying, but the actress masterfully balances caricature with subtlety, and comedy with drama. The only thing to do is jump over the moon

Just home from seeing this show for the first time. I never leave reviews, but how can I not. The amount of talent on that stage is incredible, and in so much abundance for such young actors. Maureen and Joanne were cast incredibly, these young actors have the voices and the talent that these parts call for. Mimi (wow) and roger (wow).. no words, the voices and the acting from both of these individuals is one to remember. It’s so hard to pick out members of this production, as each and every single one has talent in bucket loads.

There are only 8 more shows left to see, we will be back and I recommend everyone go and watch this wonderful production. I’m still emotional.

Good production but with disappointing choices, Maureen's voice was not up to the level of the rest of the cast, even though she embodied the character well, the screeching and bum notes were painful to the ear, which really brings the performance down, especially as Joanne's casting is excellent and vocally strong. Worth seeing despite this.

Incredible performances from all the cast especially Roger and Collins - I can’t fault that at all. Probably a question to be raised with the organisers about whether you should do Rent if you lack the diversity to have anything but a fully white(passing) cast.

Phenomenally good singing from the whole of the talented cast all working very hard and delivering.
Actors playing Roger, Collins and Joanne all had powerful and emotive voices and the company harmonies were sublime.

Mics could have been louder so we don’t lose some of the fast moving libretto

Never seen this musical in my life. And thanks to this company it has become one of my favourites. The actors were phenomenal. The vocals were amazing. It had my on an emotional rollercoaster and I’m so happy that i went to watch it. It’s one I would definitely recommend.

I saw this show on Saturday, and I'm still thinking about it half a week later! Admittedly, I am a huge fan of Rent and went in with a certain level of expectation - very pleased to say that I loved it from start to finish. The vocal and acting talents on display were nothing short of amazing - special mention must go to the performers playing Roger and Joanne in this respect. Absolutely flawless performances - I could listen to them all day. I've found myself wanting to listen to their renditions of the songs this week, and disappointed that an Edinburgh Fringe '24 cast album doesn't exist! The biggest standout for me in this production however was Collins. What a performer - not a second of dropped character, and so many nuanced moments. I can't explain how much this actor managed to draw me in - (spoilers!) from watching how happy, smiley and authentic he was with Angel in Act 1, knowing what lies ahead in the second half, my heart was breaking long before it normally does. The contrast between "Act 1" Collins and the emotionally charged performance of I'll Cover You (reprise) has really stuck with me, and don't get me started on the moment during the finale! It would be so easy to over perform all of this, but this Collins was perfect.

Well done to the young cast - principals and ensemble alike, and of course the production team behind this amazing version of Rent. You have done yourselves proud.

Desperately checking my calendar to see if I can come back and see it a second time!!

What a superb show! Such a talented cast and so diverse. Great singing and energy. The whole bunch just were so cohesive, a great night!

WOW just WOW! What a fabulous production. Jonathan Larson would be so proud. If you haven’t been yet, get yourself down to the St Stephens Theatre.

The performance was fantastic, emotional, and enthusiastic. Congratulations to all involved, its hard to single out from an amazing cast but special mention must be made of Mimi & Angel.

Mimi’s voice was incredible, and Angel was born to play this role. The West End and Broadway are calling…

I’m considering a return visit, It’s a must-see!

Thoroughly enjoyed this show - the cast were energised and fully committed, great singers, and very emotionally engaged - it made for a very powerful and enjoyable experience. Congratulations to the whole cast!

10/10!!! Amazing performance of Rent. All the cast were great especially Joanne, Collins and Maureen who stood out for me the most! Very authentic actors with amazing vocals and stage presence. A wee tear was shed at the end for sure!!

Having never heard of the show Rent before, I was excited to see what this show was all about. Immediately I was captured by the immense talent that the whole cast held between them, however it was Mimi ( who i believe was played by the insanely talented Roisin Caulfield) who’s stage presence grabbed me from the beginning with her amazing vocals and stage presence; especially with Roger who was also portrayed extraordinarily well! Overall I felt the two of them carried the main body of the storyline, but the entire cast was something you would expect to see at the Edinburgh playhouse! I would definitely give this a 10 out of 10 and recommend to all my family and friends!

I took my daughter to see Rent last night, not a big fan of musicals myself so thought it would just be a treat for her. But what a treat for my own eyes and ears. I have never seen rent before, but it’s now my favourite musical. The talent on that stage is ridiculous for a fringe show, these people with this show should be on the west end. Vocals that sent shivers down my spine, acting that reduced me to laughter and tears within the same 5 minutes. I have to say, Mimi and roger were our favourite. Their acting both individually and together was flawless. Don’t change a thing. We have bought more tickets for next week as we can’t possibly only see it once. 100% couldn’t recommend this show enough, missing out on seeing it would be a huge miss on your behalf. This is what Edinburgh fringe is all about. Good job guys.

WOW! what a gorgeous production of this show. It really does the story line justice. You can tell the production team have such a love and understanding for the show. With such a talented cast on their hands they’ve made such a beautiful piece of theatre. The vocals of this cast are worth it alone, Collin’s vocals melt like butter they are so dreamy and as someone who has seen the show many a time this is by far the most authentic Angel I have seen! I will admit if I didn’t know the show I wouldn’t entirely know what was happening as the key narration from mark was lost as his annunciation of his lines was difficult to understand at times.
Overall a phenomenal cast and a phenomenal show! I definitely needed a tissue or 2 in act 2

A very rare chance to see this extremely special musical live. It was absolutely brilliant, with a talented cast and some incredible singing and acting. The ensemble parts were fantastic. Can’t recommend highly enough. 11/10

What a show… Lewis as Roger - HOLY SHIT. an absolute powerhouse and a force to be reckoned with & destined for something great, can’t wait to see what he does next. The character of Maureen was played in the most mindbogglingly fantastic fashion. Tom was played with sincerity and raw emotion and had me struggling to hold back tears. honestly could go on all day about each individual who performed but instead I’d say GO SEE THE SHOW. Immersive, emotional, shocking, it has it all. Good luck to the cast of RENT, may each and every one of your careers prosper.

A wonderfully acted and performed piece. Marred a little bit by sound issues but made up for by some amazing physical performances that had my mouth agape. A memorable and well worth attending piece, the director and cast have outdone themselves

A talented young cast do justice to a much loved musical. The vocals were incredible at times and the staging and choreography were impressive. Hats off to you.

Without doubt Rent is the best musical I have seen in the Fringe this year. The company are brilliant, the acting and singing is really good, as they guide us through the lives of a group of friends living in New York. A must see first class show.

Incredible cast, powerful and moving show handled professionally and with care. Maureen will make you howl with laughter, Collins and Angel will make you cry, Mimis gorgeous voice Roger’s powerful rock vocals will leave you with songs in your head and reminded of your privilege. Outstanding show.

Fantastic, emotional, inspiring performance at Rent tonight! Was impressed by the whole cast and production. Big shout out to Rodger, Maureen, Collins, Mimi and Joanne who gave a raw, natural and outstanding performance that I was inspired with. Would recommend this show to anyone who wants to have a laugh, sing along and shed a wee tear. On way home listening to Over the Moon and Without you as they’re not leaving my head.

Absolutely fantastic show showcasing the immense talent of the individuals on stage! Couldn't pick a fault in any of the cast! Best show I've seen so far at this year's fringe! Well done everyone and best of luck for the rest of your run!

I was absolutely captivated by this company’s production of Rent. The entire cast complimented each other so well and gave an electric performance. A special mention goes to the actor who portrayed Angel in such a mesmerising way, making me laugh one minute and tear up the next. I really enjoyed this performance and would happily watch again.

Enthralling! Such a rich, powerful, and memorable performance with a tremendously talented cast. You’d be hard pressed to identify an emotion that wasn’t elicited during this triumphant tour de force. Don’t do yourself the disservice of missing this while you’ve got the chance…

This show is an absolute masterpiece, work of art, moving and the performance any actor should strive to achieve. All of the characters were played so genuinely and you could feel the emotion oozing off of them. Angel really caught my heartstrings with the passion he portrayed, the horrors, the joys, the hardship and the love that were executed by the actor made me really think critically about sensitive issues such as these. He is such a brilliant actor and it hurts my heart that he is not a more famous professional. One day he will be the biggest star the world has ever seen. This was a beautiful performance from everyone and Angel was exceptional.

My wifes words: I have to say what a top class production of the hit broadway musical RENT. I’ve loved this show for many years and simply couldn’t miss this one - i’m so glad I didn’t. The actors on that stage are so polished and it would truly be a massive mistake to miss this. I have to say that young lad who played Angel, I think I read his name is Morgan? He was outstanding. I’ve never seen a powerhouse like that on stage before. A must see.

Such a good show!! Talent abound within this cast! Rent had me enthralled the whole way through and even balling during that second half. The funniest moments in this sea of sadness (Mark’s mother) make for such an enjoyable viewing. 10/10 would recommend and will be to see again!!!

As my first viewing of Rent, I was totally blown away! The amount of talent on and off stage was incredible and such a joy to see. Each song conveyed such raw and true emotion so perfectly delivered by the wonderful cast!

A must see this fringe!! Congratulations all

I could not recommend this production enough. The cast is so incredibly talented, and I was brought to hysterical tears and laughter in the second act. The emotion on stage is so raw and I can not thank the company enough for allowing me to experience this emotion and taking me on their journey! Go and watch this incredible piece!

An amazing performance of Rent with incredibly talented actors. I really enjoyed the emotive performance throughout - particularly conveyed with each song. I couldn’t recommend this show more!! 100% must see

Having only limited knowledge of the musical i was very much looking forward to seeing Rent for the first time. What a talented group of young actors all the cast were fabulous, the singing was superb, the energy and relationships of the cast on stage, in tackling all of the themes and issues of the times were perfect. Well done guys

I love Rent, I’ve seen it many times. I wasn’t expecting much from the fringe but this is up in my top ten cast performances. The thing with this musical is it doesn’t need special effects and amazing scenery, what it needs is a cast who understand the parts they are playing and also do the vocals justice. These guys had it in abundance.
I have to single out the actor playing Mark Cohen. To act emotions well is one thing, but to act that you are hiding emotions and convey that to the audience is a whole other ball game. This character is often overlooked as no big solos but he is the glue that binds the Rent family together and this guy really got that across to me.
10/10

Went to see this last night absolutely brilliant.
The chemistry between the characters/cast was fabulous. Top quality singing from all cast members especially mimi, Joanne, Maureen and Rodger.
Definitely going back for more.
Well done

Rent is one of my favourite musicals, my husband and I always make sure to see it whenever it is available. We are an older couple who both remember those times very fondly, both having lost important people due to the HIV epidemic and drug epidemic. What a beautiful way to tell the stories of people no longer here, and what a talented cast to tell. One to watch, it was my husbands favourite production that we have seen in a while. Great job.

Went to see this last night, and what a brilliant show. The sound let the cast down, sometimes it was a struggle to hear quieter parts and if you don’t know the storyline you could get lost. The onstage chemistry between all the couples was totally believable. Special mention to whoever played Mimi, her voice is so beautiful and I found myself tearing up at parts of her songs as she sang with such heartache which made it all believable. Overall, ignoring the sound issues, 10/10 and what a bunch of talented people I’m sure I’ll go and see it again before it finishes.

I knew nothing about the story line or music of Rent.
The first half to me was a bit confusing and wasn’t quite sure what the show was telling me. The second half however was good and the story fell into place.
Well done

Awesome show. It's such a tragic story, reminding me of the early 90s in London when I knew people with heroin addiction and HIV. But absolutely brilliantly acted. Huge congrats to the cast. Especially Roger who was my fave - you have such an expressive face! It's one of those shows with lots of stars, and they were all really talented. Thank you.

Wonderful honest performances from the cast played with heartfelt emotion. Excellent show they left everything on their stage. Vocals were outstanding but be warned you will need a tissue or two!

Words cannot describe how much the rent cast NAILED that tonight. They really did embody the real people that lived the life they get to play. Working with such a heartbreaking but joyful story is so difficult but the production team and the cast approached it with such vulnerability and grace. The chemistry between Angel/Colins Mimi/Rodger in each of their ‘last moments together’ was exceptional. Working with individuals living and loving with HIV is a special part of my journey and I really hope that the cast understand how much of an amazing part they get to play. Thank you for bringing the story to life!!

This was my first time seeing Rent and what an introduction! The cast have such great chemistry with each other, elevated by their pitch-perfect vocals - I was especially blown away by the actress who played Joanne. The story is poignant and affecting, and in particular, this production succeeds at making the world it takes place in seem alive and dynamic. I really felt like there more to the characters, but also more beyond them - other stories that could be told, but that were only implied through the cast's masterful expression and performance. This show, and these actors, are ones to keep an eye on for sure

Modern and cool adaptation of the old Broadway musical, love all the characters, everyone is cool, they deleted the discrimination languages from the original lines I really love that as a minority. However like other comments said the voice projection is not good and hard to follow the lines

An enthusiastic well rehearsed cast let down by poor sound. The articulation is not clear above the music and therefore the story is hard to follow. Shame. It’s nearly there but not quite.

Whilst set in the early 90’s this life affirming musical is totally appropriate for today’s economic and social situation where money is king and love is love in all its different colours. A slick production from this cast with delicious harmonies so good the goosebumps are intense and multiple.

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