It was 1995, and writer Jonathan Larson was knee deep in rehearsals for a brand new musical about the lives of a group of young (and starving) artists living in New York's Alphabet City. Little did his cast of young actors know then how the show would later change the trajectory of their lives.

On 26 January 1996, RENT opened off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop, moving to Broadway's Nederlander Theater just three months later. It became the defining musical of its generation, picking up four Tony Awards that year, opening on the West End two years later. A film adaptation followed in 2005. Larson never lived to see RENT's success and continuing influence, passing away suddenly the night before its off-Broadway premiere.

This year, RENT marks its 30th anniversary with a brand new production set to open in London's West End this September. Casting news for the show brings with it a hefty dose of Pinoy pride, as London-based Filipino actor Joaquin Pedro Valdes joins the show as Benny. one of the former bohemians turned businessman by marrying rich.

Valdes is no stranger to the world of theater, performing since he was a child appearing in Trumpets productions such as The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, and Joseph The Dreamer, 9Works Theatrical's The Last Five Years, the cerebral piece Red, among many others. He also directed the horror film Dagim, and was once a member of the boy band 17:28.

Valdes found himself taking a huge leap of faith, moving to London in 2018 to join the touring cast of Miss Saigon as Thuy, then later King and I. In 2020, the actor made his official London stage debut in the musical Fanny and Stella. Since then, he has built a solid career on the West End with notable performances in Heathers, Vanara The Legend, and The Lion King. For Valdes, starring in the lead role of Light Yagami in 2023's Death Note: The Musical counts as among his greatest achievements so far.

Being cast as Benny in this latest revival of RENT is a huge deal for the actor, saying "The themes of choosing love over fear...creation over war, it still resonates right now." He also shares his excitement to work with director Luke Sheppard, with his new vision for the show. "He is bringing it to a new generation, so that younger people who have no idea what RENT is will say 'that feels so new.' That's so exciting," enthused the actor. "Retaining all that purity, all that passion, resistance, celebration."

Joining Valdes in the cast of is Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo as the show's central narrator, aspiring filmmaker Mark. RENT opens at the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End in September.