Created by Jonathan Larson, RENT is one of the most influential musicals of the modern era. Inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème, it follows a group of young artists living in New York City’s East Village as they navigate love, friendship, identity, ambition, and survival during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. First premiering off-Broadway in 1996 before transferring to Broadway, RENT became a cultural phenomenon, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and multiple Tony Awards. Its raw storytelling and rock-infused score reshaped musical theatre for a new generation. Now, as RENT London 2026 prepares for its long-awaited West End return, audiences can expect a revival that reintroduces its iconic and emotional story to a new era.