Actress Gabriela Garcia saved the day after illness struck the cast of the sold-out production of Rent at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre.
Gabriela stepped in at just a few hours’ notice to play the pivotal role of Mimi.
She actually had a ticket to see the show when an actress fell ill, with no understudies available. The theatre had already had to cancel three shows before discovering Gabriela was coming to see it.
Arriving in the city at 11AM, she was fitted for a costume, had a rehearsal with the MD and run-through with the entire company before appearing in front of a paying audience that night.
Garcia has previously appeared in the Royal Exchange's West Side Story.
Rent continues its run at Hope Mill until September 19.