Rent first opened in New York 13 February 1996. It quickly became the most talked-about musical. Many critics consider Rent to be perhaps the most significant event in the world of musicals since Hair. After the Swedish premiere at Göta Lejon, Stockholm, in January 2001, it became clear that it was a hit there too.

Jonathan Larson (music & text) based Rent on Puccini’s La Bohème. A modern musical full of vitality, energy, risks and genuine joie de vivre, Rent is about being young, vulnerable, afraid and alone in a big, cold city. It is about young people, their chaotic, Bohemian lives and their efforts to find meaning in an increasingly harsh world. About living for the moment and making the most of our time here on earth.

Musically, Rent resembles everything and nothing. There are references to hundreds of works: musicals, evergreens, rock songs and, not least, the original – La Bohème. So beautifully and brilliantly performed, however, that it can, indeed, be nothing but Rent.

Unfortunately, the creator of the work, Jonathan Larson, did not get to enjoy his life work. One of life’s cruel ironies, he died of cerebral haemorrhage the night after the dress rehearsal, ten days before he would have turned 36.

The cast includes Jakob Stadell, Fredrik Swahn, Thérèse Andersson, Anna Widing, Sarah Dawn Finer, Conny Bäckström, Daniel Engman and Magnus Sjögren.

Conductor: Lennart Simonsson
Director: Nick Bye
Choreographer: Jan Åström
Set Design: Nick Bye, Mats Jacobsson, Bengt Peters
Costumes: Lars-Åke Wilhelmsson
Lighting: Palle Palmé
Sound Design: Pär Gardenkrans