Date: 24 August 2026
Time: 3.25pm – 5.55pm
Venue: Sanctuary at Paradise in Augustines (Venue 152)
Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Rating: ★★★★ (4/5)
Reviewed by: Bella Pirintji
Fringe Run: 24 – 30 August
Ticket Price: £19.00 (£17.50 + £1.50 booking fee)
Age Suitability: 14+ (guideline)
Performers: Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group (@eusogy)
Link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/rent
Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group (EUSOG), the institution’s oldest musical theatre society, is performing its version of contemporary American musical Rent at this year’s Fringe.
This was my first time seeing Rent, but I was familiar with some of its songs and had a vague idea of what the story was about. Set during the HIV/AIDS crisis, the musical depicts struggle and camaraderie within a New York City ‘bohemian’ community. It’s drawn various criticisms but remains a classic in the scene, with catchy numbers like Seasons of Love and La Vie Bohème belted out by enthusiastic theatre kids (and adults) across the world.
EUSOG’s version consists almost entirely of musical numbers. The actors and band kept up well with the pace as they moved from song to song through the two-and-a-half-hour show, with barely a breather aside from the intermission.
There were some strong voices and believable on-stage chemistry between characters. The costumes and set were colourful, and the overall energy was lively even with the darker context. The larger group numbers were particularly impressive; the cast showed off their skills by manoeuvring through a large amount of choreography and working together to create some beautiful harmonies.
As I attended on preview night, there were some understandable technical difficulties. Some of the dialogue was difficult to hear, making the storyline a bit hard to follow.
I don’t have other versions of Rent to compare it to, but overall I found this an entertaining performance to watch. The story was brought to life by a diverse and talented cast, paired with effective use of stage props, live music and even a film projection element. I felt like every member of the large cast had their moment to shine, with some secondary characters even causing me to gasp during their solos.
Both existing fans of Rent and newcomers alike can enjoy this production; clearly, a lot of work went into bringing this musical together.
