- Published
Keeping your balance on a revolving stage probably sounds easy when you compare it with battling demogorgons, but Gaten Matarazzo points out one big difference.
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Matarazzo → publish → difference
You don't get the luxury of "thirty takes" to get it right in front of a live audience.
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You → get → audience
The former Stranger Things star's currently playing Mark in a modern revival of rock musical Rent on London's West End.
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star → play → End
He tells BBC Newsbeat that having a proper schedule and remembering to stay hydrated makes a "refreshing change" from filming the Netflix smash-hit that made him famous.
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him → tell → hit
Matarazzo shot to fame in 2016 as endearing super-geek Dustin Henderson - a role he calls "the greatest honour of his life".
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he → shoot → life
The saga finally concluded last December after five seasons, and there's been interest in what the show's cast will do next.
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cast → conclude → what
"It's something you do inevitably step away from," says Matarazzo
"
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Matarazzo → step → ?
We finished filming in 2024 - there's no more show to film.
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We → finish → 2024
"
"I still love what I do very much, I want to keep on doing it."
Casting big names from TV and film in theatre shows is a growing trend, and one that sometimes provokes accusations of cashing in.
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that → love → accusations
But Matarazzo has plenty of stage experience, having performed on Broadway when he was a child.
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he → have → Broadway
He says the time commitment involved meant it was impossible to "blend both worlds".
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it → say → worlds
"My favourite part of theatre specifically is the schedule," he says.
"Going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time.
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he → say → time
"I've always thrived under a schedule and when I don't have one I feel insane."
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I → thrive → one
In Rent, Matarazzo plays struggling film-maker Mark, who chronicles and narrates the lives of his friends.
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who → play → friends
It has been 30 years since the show first opened off-Broadway in New York, but the actor says there are "certain songs that weirdly resonate now".
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that → open → York
"What You Own, which feels like a reflection on information overload, is incredibly relevant," he says.
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he → own → overload
"That's really fun to sing in context of today."
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That → sing → today
When it was first performed, Rent shone a light on young friends and artists living in late 1980s and early 1990s New York during the HIV/Aids crisis.
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Rent → perform → crisis
It was considered groundbreaking at the time for tackling social taboos and centering stories of LGBT people.
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It → consider → people
Writer Jonathan Larson died suddenly the night before its premiere.
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Larson → die → premiere
Matarazzo's co-star, Travis Ross, who plays Roger, says the show's themes still "ring true" today.
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themes → play → Roger
The 25-year-old says having Rent tends to attract people who "care so deeply" about the show's message, resulting in a connection between actors and the audience.
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who → say → actors
He calls it a "really beautiful community-driven piece of art".
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He → call → art
Both Ross and Matarazzo are keen to acknowledge their fellow cast members and point out Rent is "an ensemble" piece.
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Rent → acknowledge → members
"In the same way we get our moments to tell the story there's also ten other people who get their moments to tell the story as well," says Ross.
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Ross → get → story
Many of those in the audience will be there to watch Matarazzo, and he says he's determined to get the role right.
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role → watch → Matarazzo
"I'm on stage for the majority of the show and singing the whole time," he says.
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he → sing → show
"It's not anything that's particularly high or out of my range, it's actually a part that I think fits nicely in my pocket.
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I → think → pocket
"But it's just so much singing, and making sure I'm doing it correctly is essential," he says.
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he → make → it
Matarazzo also plans to embrace his return to the stage.
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Matarazzo → plan → stage
"Once we're in the run it will be great," he says.
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he → say → run
"I just always love the opportunity to start and finish a character arc and story in real time.
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I → love → time
"You don't get an opportunity to do that when you're filming."
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you → get → that
Speaking of which - if he ever got the call to go back to Hawkins and step into Dustin's shoes, would he take the chance?
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he → speak → chance
"If that happens, that's great, and if not, that's completely fine.
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that → happen → ?
I've loved doing the show so much, it's literally the greatest honour of my life."
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it → love → life
Gaten Matarazzo is booked to perform until 10 January.
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Matarazzo → book → January
The Aporia
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