“Rent” by Nottingham Trent University Drama Society
Nottingham Arts Theatre.

“Rent” tells the story of a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create a life in New York City's East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS and is loosely based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La Bohème.

It is set in the East Village of New York City, and is also about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today.

The physical and emotional complications of HIV and Aids pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom, and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble.

Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves, and conflicts provides the narrative thread to the musical.

Most people may have heard the song “Seasons Of Love” but the soundtrack is full of catchy memorable songs like “Light My Candle”, “Take Me Or Leave Me”, “La Vie Boheme”, "Out Tonight", "I'll Cover You", "One Song Glory", "Santa Fe" as well as the title song.

Louis Simpson (Mark), Benedict Wills (Roger) and Robbie Nichols (Tom) are the three frontmen and make a great trio with some very powerful voices. Robbie's on stage relationship with Angel, played wonderfully by Josh Bingham, is cute and believable - that scene in Act Two with the two of them still beings a tear to the eye, no matter how many times you see this musical.

Carly Davis (Mimi), Rosie Durant (Joanne) and Charlotte Hare (Maureen) provide the sexiness to the musical. This trio also bring some pretty powerful vocals to the stage. "Take Me Or Leave Me" was packed with explosive sultriness, as was "Light My Candle" and "Without You" sent the hairs up on the back of my neck.

Chris Lindsey-Hill (Benjamin) turned his character around with a monetary act of kindness, showing both sides of the landlord and friend to the squatters. Chris was also in charge of design for this show.

A wonderful chorus and ensemble fleshed out the vocals, especially in the song "Seasons Of Love" giving it an almost gospel feel.

David Hails is the Musical Director for this show which is practically rock opera status as there's hardly any gaps in the music.

Rob Kettridge is in charge of the sound and we heard every word from the stage with the mix being just right.

Harry Bridge was in charge of the Lighting Design, again doing a cracking job, creating the atmospheric dinginess of the Bohemian squat among the various other settings.

Talking of the set, this was a simple affair but was just right for the production.

"Rent" isn't the easiest of shows to put on or perform but Directors Jeremy Brown and Martyna Nasiadka kept it all tight and fluid. hand in hand with Stage manager Edward Humphreys, this production just flowed smoothly.

You can see the hard work that everyone involved in this production has put in and the passion injected into this play made this play the entertaining success that it was. I'd have loved to have seen the theatre more full tonight because the cast and crew merited more support in my opinion.

“Rent” is at the Nottingham Arts Theatre until Saturday 28 April 2018 and at £7.00 a ticket you get an excellent bargain with this show.