Gaten Matarazzo makes West End debut as Mark in Rent revival
Former Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo plays Mark in Luke Sheppard's revival of Rent at London's Tom Stoppard Theatre, which has its opening night on 8 October. Matarazzo has spoken to BBC Newsbeat and Variety about the role and life after Stranger Things.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Gaten Matarazzo, best known as Dustin Henderson in Netflix's Stranger Things, is making their West End debut as Mark in a revival of the rock musical Rent at the Tom Stoppard Theatre in London. BBC NewsN “The former Stranger Things star's currently playing Mark in a modern revival of rock musical Rent on London's West End.” Read at BBC News ↗ VarietyLC “Matarazzo, making his West End debut, is feeling anxious.” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2Variety reports that opening night is 8 October, after previews began about two days after its visit to tech week, and the BBC says Matarazzo is booked to perform until 10 January. VarietyLC “It’s tech week, and previews begin in two days; opening night is Oct. 8.” Read at Variety ↗ BBC NewsN “Gaten Matarazzo is booked to perform until 10 January.” Read at BBC News ↗ Left · 1Luke Sheppard, who won an Olivier Award for Paddington the Musical, directs; Variety says Matarazzo was offered the part by email and that the two clicked at a first meeting, with Sheppard telling them they should play Mark. VarietyLC “Matarazzo quickly set up a meeting with Luke Sheppard, a hotshot director coming off the biggest success of his career with the blockbuster “Paddington the Musical” on the West End”““Instantly I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, you should play Mark. This is going to be magical,” Sheppard says.” Read at Variety ↗
Centre · 1Matarazzo says stepping away from Stranger Things was inevitable, as filming finished in 2024 and the show concluded last December after five seasons, and that they still want to keep working. BBC NewsN “The saga finally concluded last December after five seasons, and there's been interest in what the show's cast will do next.”“"We finished filming in 2024 - there's no more show to film."” Read at BBC News ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets note that Matarazzo has stage experience from childhood on Broadway; Variety says they started at age 9 in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Les Misérables, and mentions online criticism of "star casting" from people unaware of that background. BBC NewsN “But Matarazzo has plenty of stage experience, having performed on Broadway when he was a child.” Read at BBC News ↗ VarietyLC “Beyond online groans about stunty “star casting” from those unaware of Matarazzo’s theater background” Read at Variety ↗ Centre · 1Matarazzo told BBC Newsbeat that the regular schedule of theatre is a "refreshing change" from filming, and that they like being able to start and finish a character arc in real time, which film does not allow. BBC NewsN “He tells BBC Newsbeat that having a proper schedule and remembering to stay hydrated makes a "refreshing change"”“"I just always love the opportunity to start and finish a character arc and story in real time.” Read at BBC News ↗
Mixed · 2Rent, with music, lyrics and book by Jonathan Larson, follows young artists in New York during the HIV/AIDS crisis; Larson died the night before its first performance, and 2026 marks 30 years since its 1996 off-Broadway premiere. BBC NewsN “Writer Jonathan Larson died suddenly the night before its premiere.” Read at BBC News ↗ VarietyLC “It’s the 30th anniversary of the original production, which became one of the longest-running shows on Broadway, closing in 2008.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1Variety calls Sheppard's staging the show's first true revival in two decades and says it aims to stay close to Larson's vision, keeping the period and New York setting; Sheppard had earlier staged a socially distanced Rent at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre in 2020. VarietyLC “Sheppard’s rendition is the show’s first true revival in two decades”“began working on “Rent” at Manchester’s tiny Hope Mill Theatre.” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2The cast includes Travis Ross as Roger, Alexa Lopez as Mimi, Lazy Violet as Maureen and Jeevan Braich as Angel; Ross told the BBC the show's themes still "ring true" and that Rent is an ensemble piece. VarietyLC “The tall blonde with tattoos is Roger (Travis Ross)” Read at Variety ↗ BBC NewsN “Matarazzo's co-star, Travis Ross, who plays Roger, says the show's themes still "ring true" today.” Read at BBC News ↗
Centre · 1Matarazzo said some songs resonate today, citing What You Own as a reflection on information overload, and said that being asked about returning as Dustin would be "great" if it happened but "completely fine" if not. BBC NewsN “"What You Own, which feels like a reflection on information overload, is incredibly relevant," he says.”“"If that happens, that's great, and if not, that's completely fine.” Read at BBC News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Variety runs a long, celebratory production feature on the revival, led by Matarazzo's casting and director Luke Sheppard's vision, with a rehearsal-room scene and cast profiles.
- Emphasis
- Rent's history and legacy, Sheppard's earlier staging, the ensemble's personal journeys, and Matarazzo's nerves in tech week.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little on Matarazzo's feelings about Stranger Things ending beyond a brief mention of it dominating their career.
- Charged language
- “Perfectly Cast”“Biggest Revival Yet”“struck gold”
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- BBC Newsbeat presents a short Q&A-style piece on Matarazzo's life after Stranger Things and the move to stage.
- Emphasis
- Matarazzo's career after the show, the appeal of a theatre schedule, and the show's continuing relevance.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cover director Sheppard, the production's history of revivals, or most of the cast.
- Charged language
- “cashing in”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Gaten Matarazzo plays Mark in a revival of Rent at London's Tom Stoppard Theatre, their West End debut.
- Matarazzo is best known as Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things and performed on Broadway as a child.
- Travis Ross, aged 25, plays Roger.
- Rent's writer Jonathan Larson died the night before its premiere, and the show is 30 years old.
Gaten Matarazzo person
Describes Rent as a dream role, welcomes the structure of theatre after film work, admits to nerves before opening, and is relaxed about whether they return to Stranger Things.
“It had been Matarazzo’s dream role since he discovered the musical.” — Variety
“"If that happens, that's great, and if not, that's completely fine.” — BBC News
Rent other
Presented as a groundbreaking 30-year-old musical about the HIV/AIDS crisis whose themes are still seen as relevant today.
“It was considered groundbreaking at the time for tackling social taboos and centering stories of LGBT people.” — BBC News
Stranger Things product
Described as the Netflix hit that made Matarazzo famous and which concluded last December after five seasons.
“The saga finally concluded last December after five seasons” — BBC News
UK and Ireland1 outlet
BBC Newsbeat focuses on Matarazzo's career shift and personal outlook.
“He tells BBC Newsbeat that having a proper schedule and remembering to stay hydrated makes a "refreshing change"” — BBC News
BBC News
North America1 outlet
Variety frames the production as a major theatrical event, with industry detail on the director and cast.
“Sheppard’s rendition is the show’s first true revival in two decades” — Variety
Variety
Left1 article
-
Celebratory Glowing behind-the-scenes feature that treats the revival as a major cultural event and praises the casting and director.
Centre1 article
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Gaten Matarazzo on life after Stranger Things as he makes West End debut
Sympathetic Light, personable interview piece on Matarazzo's shift from screen to stage, noting the 'cashing in' criticism but answering it with their stage background.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 8 Oct 12:09 First BBC NewsN Gaten Matarazzo on life after Stranger Things as he makes West End debut
- 8 Oct 14:00 +1h 50m VarietyLC ‘Rent,’ Reborn: How Star Gaten Matarazzo, Director Luke Sheppard and a Perfectly Cast West End Ensemble Are Giving the Musical Its Biggest Revival Yet
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.