A talented on-stage and behind-the-scenes cast of 16 to 25-year-olds has been unveiled for the Youth Arts Centre’s September production of the Broadway musical Rent. Alex Turner, who will direct the production, said: ‘We were looking for the best young talent for this edgy, ground-breaking show, which centres on the lives of four friends finding their way in New York at the end of the 20th century, when Aids was at its height and being male or female, gay or straight, meant that forming a relationship was fraught with potentially life-threatening danger. ‘Rent is about the post-college era when friends separate and begin new lives, changing from young people dependent on their parents to adults with jobs and responsibilities, managing money, paying rent on their first home, dealing with parents who can’t let go, finding partners, falling in love, marrying, exploring sexuality and coping with meeting new people in a big city miles from home,’ Alex continued. ‘We needed a cast that could deal with this painful yet life-affirming story.’ The selection process lasted a fortnight and such was the interest that students who are off-Island at university auditioned by video. Musical director Nicholas J Roberts – who teaches music at Ballakermeen High School – said: ‘We had a wonderful experience auditioning dozens of young people aged 16 to 25. We were spoilt for choice, there is so much burgeoning young talent available on this small Island, and picking the cast was hard.’ On stage will be some of the best young musical theatre artists from the Island including Tina Adamson, Dean Callow, Matthew Cannell, David Dawson, Iain Dixon, Gemma Grainger, Zoe Greatbatch, Joe Hillard, Georgina Hooper, Aaron Joughin, Liam Kaneen, Lewis Kelly, Zara Lace, Dee Mairs, Leanne Matthews, Laura Matthews, Rosie Moffatt, Liam Moorhouse, Mark Murley, Jessica O’Brien, Perry O’Dea, Amber Purnell, Chloe Shimmin, Richard Waugh, Joy White and Joey Wylde. Iain Dixon will assist the musical director as vocal coach; Tom Kinrade is stage manager with Sammie Cain as his assistant; sound and lighting will be run by Youth Arts Centre technical staff Martin MacFarlane and Paul Ellison, assisted by J.P Christian, Joseph Callister and T.J Scofield. Head of Youth Arts for the Department of Education and Children Fiona Helleur said: ‘We hoped Rent would be popular but have been completely blown away by the level of enthusiasm and the amount of talent demonstrated. This show is going to be wonderful and is completely managed by under-25s. The only old codger around is me and my job is to open the door.’ Rent is on at the Gaiety Theatre on the 1st and 2nd of September and tickets, priced ?15 and ?10 (concessions), are available now from the Villa Marina and Gaiety box office and the Manx Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal – ring 600555. Ends