Gaten Matarazzo, known for Stranger Things, is set to star as Mark in the London revival of Rent. The production opens at the Duke of York’s Theatre on October 8, with performances beginning September 26, 2026.
When London’s Duke of York’s Theatre opens its doors for Rent this fall, it won’t just be a revival—it’ll be a fresh entry point for a new generation. Gaten Matarazzo, the 23-year-old actor best known for playing Dustin on Stranger Things, is set to star as Mark in the upcoming London production.
In Rent. Mark is a role that originally came to audiences through Anthony Rapp. both in the Broadway show and in the movie version.. The musical. written by the late Jonathan Larson. premiered on Broadway in 1996 and later earned four Tony Awards. including Best Musical.. Over the years. Rent also became a launching pad for performers including Rapp. Adam Pascal. Idina Menzel. Taye Diggs. Jesse L.. Martin, and Daphne Rubin-Vega.
This London run is scheduled to begin performances on September 26, 2026, with an opening night set for October 8, 2026.. The production is directed by Luke Sheppard. whose credits include directing the hit musical & Juliet and Paddington: The Musical. which is sold out for the next year at London’s newest attention-grabber.
Producer Sonia Friedman spoke about the audience she expects and what Matarazzo’s casting could mean beyond the stage doors.. She said she knows “what the demographic for the show will be—and how excited they are going to be about seeing Gaten on stage.” Friedman added that introducing the UK audience to Rent “is just mind-blowingly exciting. ” describing how Matarazzo “is going to bring in a whole new audience. ” and that “this feels really special.”
Matarazzo’s path to this role already runs deep through theatre history.. He got his start as a child actor on Broadway in Les Miserables and Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.. After his rise on TV. he returned to Broadway in Dear Evan Hansen and Sweeney Todd—moves that set him up to step into Mark at a point when Rent’s story is meeting his fanbase head-on.
Gaten Matarazzo Rent London revival Mark Duke of York’s Theatre Stranger Things Anthony Rapp Luke Sheppard Sonia Friedman Jonathan Larson Broadway Les Miserables Priscilla: Queen of the Desert Dear Evan Hansen Sweeney Todd