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Books, music and lyrics by
Jonathan Larson -
Musical arrangements by
Steve Skinner -
Original concept / additional lyrics by
Billy Aronson -
Musical supervision and additional arrangements
Tim Weil -
Dramaturg
Lynn Thomson -
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Directed by
Lara Macgregor -
Musical direction by
Richard Marrett
UPDATE 17 Jan 2023:
RENT SOLD OUT
Limited additional seats may become available; please contact Box Office at communications@courttheatre.org.nz to join the waitlist. Please include how many seats you would like, which performances you could attend if contacted at short notice and a phone number.
A few additional stool seats have been added to the top row of each performance and are available at $50 each; these can only be booked either in person or via phone (03 963 0870) to Box Office.
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Brave in the face of danger; loving when confronted by hate and hopeful against all odds, RENT is one of the most uplifting and beloved musicals ever.
This ground-breaking production follows a group of artists struggling and striving to follow their dreams in New York City against a backdrop of poverty, looming gentrification and the AIDS crisis of the 1990s.
A pop-culture phenomenon, this Pulitzer Prize winner is packed with high-energy musical numbers, including revered hits Seasons of Love, Take Me or Leave Me and La Vie Bohème.
“RENT endures in the grand tradition of rock musicals: its heart is bigger than its problems; its music moves under your skin and moves you.” – The Guardian
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Key dates
- 19 November 2022: Opening night
- 21 November 2022: Forum - a special performance where audiences get to ask cast and crew questions after the show
- 29 November 2022: Pay What You Can
- 17 December 2022: Matinee performance at 2pm, Audio Described Performance. Please contact Box Office (03 963 0870) directly to book the Audio Described elements of this performance
- 31 December 2022: Matinee performance at 4pm
- 21 January 2023: Matinee performance at 2pm
- 21 January 2023: Closing night
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Cast
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Creatives
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Band
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Tickets
- Adult $77 - $86
- Senior (65+) $70 - $77
- Group (6+) $73
- Friends of The Court Theatre $69 - $75
- Child (under 18) $40 - $43
- Community Services or Hāpai Access cardholders $39
- 30 Below* (aged 30 & under) $30
30 Below*
A limited number of $30 tickets are available to those who are between 18 and 30 years old. To book, simply select '30 Below' from the ticket options. Tickets are limited to two per person and the person making the booking will need to collect tickets from the Box Office, showing photo ID with proof of age. The second ticket holder does not need to be under 30 years old. By purchasing 30 Below tickets, you agree to receive 30 Below emails from The Court.
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Rush Tickets
After it opened in 1996, RENT introduced the concept of ‘Rush’ tickets – cheaper buy-at-the-last-moment tickets that enabled many RENT-heads to see their beloved musical again and again without breaking the bank. Rush tickets are now a well-known feature of Broadway and the West End.
To honour the spirit of RENT, The Court Theatre will offer a very limited number of Rush tickets for $20 – priced as they were in 1996 – for Box Office only sale in advance of select performances. Watch The Court Theatre Facebook and Instagram on Sunday morning at 9am to see which performances in the following week will offer Rush tickets.
Please note:
- Rush seats are assigned by Box Office and may be located anywhere within the auditorium
- Only two tickets per purchaser; seats are not guaranteed to be together
- Rush tickets can only be purchased at Box Office
- Rush tickets are available for purchase from two hours before show time
- No refunds, credits or rebooking
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Press Reviews
"This reviewing business is an interesting thing. Part of the job requires critique, and that is made extremely difficult when one can’t find a single fault in a performance. This was the case for The Court’s performance of Rent.
I’ve seen the Chris Columbus movie more times than I can count and the stage show several times. What I have never seen, though, is a rendition of Rent performed so expertly that I’ve been floored.""If you’re a fan of musicals like, say, Les Miserables or Wicked, you’ll absolutely love Rent; it’s undeniably one of the best of its genre, and it’s hard to imagine Court Theatre’s production and cast being bettered. "
"The lead cast are generally wonderful, with Ben Freeth better than he’s ever been on The Court Theatre stage as Mark. Portraying two of the three central couples, Bailey Dunnage, Cameron Clayton, Jane Leonard & Anna Francesca Armenia all hold their own. But the heartbeats of this particular production are Monique Clementson and James Bell as Mimi and Roger. The characters function as foils to each other, something that the performers highlight, playing off each other with serious presence and focus."
"The cast is absolutely stacked with some of the best trans-Tasman talent available, and all approach their roles with energy, empathy, and an eye for detail...
...Together, the company create a fully fleshed out social world where all the relationships, from background characters to comic cameos, feel authentic.""It’s a banging show to end the year at The Court.
Rent takes you on a satisfying musical journey, with a big cast, soaring highs and lows, banging tunes and an enduring message about living in the moment." -
Media Release
Read the Media release here.
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KAI AT THE COURT
Related resources
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Burnett Foundation Aotearoa
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa (formerly New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Ending HIV NZ) has been at the forefront of the community response to HIV in Aotearoa for nearly 40 years.
Visit their website for resources, support, HIV testing and free condoms.
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Audience Reviews (14)
"Saw Monday night’s performance. I’ve seen “Rent” a few times incl the West End, and a couple of Australian productions, and this was, by far, the best cast I’ve ever experienced. The vocals were absolutely ridiculous! It was incredible. I came away a slightly different person. Congratulations cast and Court theatre. Loved every second. ❤️""I used to hate musicals. I avoided them. I happened to be in Christchurch and people told me to go. I loved it so much I'm bringing my teenage child to see it. We live in Auckland. That's how good RENT is.
I still hate musicals, but not this one. This one I love.""Saw RENT tonight and WOW. It was just amazing!!! (and saying that just doesn't do justice!) I have seen the show 4 times before, have the movie and the soundtrack and just love it! But this production....WOW.""I saw an ensemble of generous Actors who’s emphasis was on endowing one another and the collaborative telling of their stories. I was delighted by ‘Mark’ being plugged into his friends and hardly noticed him ‘popping’ out as narrator to guide us through. These broken souls with baggage, primal pain and survival instincts helped propelled the story forward. Without indulgence.
And what a treat it was to experience these ‘match fit musical’ performers work their craft.""The musical RENT asks us "How do you measure a year?" and to be quite honest... when I ask myself this, it's been a tough one filled sickness, postponements, cancellations and disappointments. How refreshing it was to really look forward to seeing a professional full energy musical at the end of a trying year and the Court Theatre's production of RENT definitely didn't disappoint. Instead, we were filled with joy, laughter and love. There were so many stand out and sublime moments, including real heart wrenching ones. My teenage daughters and I are still buzzing about this phenomenal show a week on from opening night. RENT is a must see! ""The Court Theatres’ take on RENT is simply extraordinary.
Lara MacGregor has her work cut out, and leads this exceptional cast and team of creatives to excellence. In six weeks, Lara and her extended team have taken the show to extraordinary heights. Well known in the Christchurch musical scene is Richard Marrett (musical director) who leads a strong but small band to the high-speed and impressive musical score.
This is a show which I have never seen or heard of before except for the one song ‘Seasons of Love’. It is set in lower Manhattan's East Village in New York, and follows a story of young artists trying to make a life and survive, under the shadow of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The cast is tight and faultless. Well known to the Court Theatre is Ben Freeth as Mark Cohen and James Bell (an Australian actor) as Roger Davis. Freeth links the heavily layered story together and pulls off a truly convincing American accent. Bell has a vocal ability which is awe-inspiring, and delivers a complex character who appears lost and lonely.
While discussing vocal ability Monique Clementson as Mimi Marquez is remarkable. Wow, I have seen Monique in a raft of shows throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Not only can she sing with great gusto, she can definitely dance and act. Clementson lures you into the world of addiction and desperation for love with power and sass. Continuing with the theme of strong vocal ability, Jane Leonard is absurdly talented. She gives the character of Maureen Johnson a sense of passion and love.
The most emotionally charged story of Tom Collins and Angel Dumott Schunard is captivating. Tom is played by Cameron Clayton and Angel by Bailey Dunnage. AIDS has a profound presence in their journey, and the way this is portrayed is fantastic. Cameron is an actor of immense emotional range; the tissues are needed! Dunnage knows his craft of drag well and his movement on stage is exceptional.
I want to make special mention of Brady Peeti, a featured vocalist known for her portrayal of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors in 2021. She has a significant vocal ability unmatched and she can control the stage. She is breath taking to watch and gives a spine tingling performance.
This brings us to the ensemble. I always say that the ensemble is what brings a show to life. They are not back up dancers, or providing chorus vocals, they are much more, they are pivotal in enrapturing the audience to the East Village.
It would be wrong to not touch on the technical features of this show. The set is the first and last thing you see and it is incomparable. The lighting and sound are masterfully accomplished, add in the special effects and you are living in New York in the 1980s.
To the cast and crew who have brought this complex, passionate and emotionally exquisite show to stage; congratulations, its execution is superb.
RENT is on until January 21st 2023, tickets will be selling fast so I entreat you to go watch.
""It’s the next morning and I still can’t believe what I saw last night was in my home town. This is the best musical done at The Court in recent years. Everything was world class! Stunning performances, incredible design, a kick ass band and some truly beautiful moments between the actors. Everyone should be getting tickets to this - it uplifts, moves and gave me hope after a particularly difficult few years. I will be coming again. Congratulations to all involved! ""Rent is a must see, it will transport you to New York without leaving home, stunningly cast with extraordinary talent and perfectly timed band gives support to each of the actors voices, all uniquely wonderful, but the entire cast is skilfully put together. Don’t miss this opportunity to see something of this calibre in Christchurch. ""The Court Theatre's latest offering, Rent, is without doubt a world-class production. Superb direction and movement coupled with outstanding singing combine to produce a show that is both poignant and uplifting. The talented ensemble give uniformly high-quality performances, all the more impressive given the vocal and energy demands this show requires.
Rent is a must-see for anyone in the region seeking live entertainment at its very best.""The most professional production I’ve seen in NZ! Wonderful music, movement and acting! You must see this treat!!""Loved this! By the end of the first half, I was in love with all the characters. Should have had some tissues - very powerful and wonderful acting and singing! ""Finally got to see RENT last night and it was amazing! I have been to and know a lot of musicals. I had heard of Rent but didn't know anything about it. WELL the opening number had so much going on onstage I didn't know where to look first! The Court as we know always delivers outstanding summer shows and this is certainly no exception! If you get a chance GO""Absolutely brilliant. The voices and music were nothing short of stunning. Musically one of the best shows I have seen. Well worth the COVID enforced wait! Highly recommended but would definitely bring some tissues. ""I have been to see RENT twice now, driving 5 hours each time to see it. Have already booked tickets for two more shows. RENT is not to be missed."