'Stranger Things' star Gaten Matarazzo says he always finds himself returning to theatre as he makes his West End debut in 'Rent'. The actor says he had no fixed plan after 'Stranger Things', but called joining the London production a 'no-brainer'.
The production offers low-cost tickets as the director seeks to make theatre more accessible. Matarazzo, who began his career on Broadway, was 13 when he first appeared as Dustin Henderson in the Netflix phenomenon 'Stranger Things'.
The series wrapped filming in December 2024 after five seasons, leaving fans wondering what might come next for its young cast. "There's an energy to working in the West End and a standard that is hard to live up to," he said.
"When Luke approached me with the production, it just was an absolute no-brainer." The 24-year-old plays aspiring filmmaker Mark Cohen in Olivier Award-winning director Luke Sheppard's revival of the musical, staged to mark its 30th anniversary. Sheppard said casting Matarazzo was about more than bringing a recognisable name to the production.
"He's got this magnetic quality," Sheppard said. "And he's also a musical theatre kid through and through.
He loves musicals and, more than anything, he loves 'Rent'." Set in New York during the HIV/AIDS crisis, 'Rent' follows a group of young artists struggling to survive while pursuing their creative ambitions. Following creator Jonathan Larson's sudden death on the eve of its 1996 off-Broadway debut, the musical became a Broadway sensation and one of the longest-running shows in New York theatre history.
Sheppard said he was passionate about introducing new audiences to live theatre, which he described as an increasingly valuable shared experience. "I really believe in the art form of theatre," he said.
"In a world where we're so used to watching things on screen or seeing things generated now by artificial intelligence (AI), it's so authentic to be in a room together." To help attract new audiences, the production is offering standing tickets for 20 pounds ($26.50) and discounted day seats.
"We really want to make sure that this show is for everybody," Sheppard said. "And that's true to the spirit of what 'Rent' has always been."