A company of deaf and hearing actors has been chosen for Leicester Curve’s bilingual workshop of Scenes from RENT—a staged performance.
Part of the theatre’s new work festival, Scenes from RENT will explore Jonathan Larson’s rock opera through the lens of the isolation and prejudice faced by deaf and hearing communities during the 1980s AIDS crisis.
Nadeem Islam will play Mark, with Melad Hamidi singing the role. Mia Ward, who played Maid Marian in the Derby Theatre 2023 production of Robin Hood and the Major Oak by Deborah McAndrew, will take the role of Maureen, with Annabelle Terry singing the role.
Cherie Gordon will play Joanne, with Charlotte St Croix singing the role. Chris Fonseca will be Collins, with Kofi Dennis singing the role. Adam Jay Price will play Roger, Alim Jadavji will be Angel, Chaya Gupta will take the role of Mimi and Nitai Levi will play Benjamin Coffin III.
Scenes from RENT—a staged performance will be directed by Lilac Yosiphon, with musical direction by Ben Garnett. Curve resident creative Stacey McCarthy will be choreographer and movement director. BSL consultant and creative associate is Deepa Shastri.
Lighting will be by Curve’s lighting technician Rhys Parker and assistant head of sound and video Angel Rossell De Pablos will provide sound design. Eleanor Field will give visual and narrative support. Creative captions are by Edalia Day.
Scenes from Rent—a staged performance will be presented in British Sign language and English in Curve’s Studio from Thursday 7 until Saturday 9 March.