Stage set for Gary to make an impact

Apr 23 2009 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A BLANTYRE actor will tread the boards next month in a production of “Rent”.

Gary Bennet will take on the principal role of ‘Roger’ in the rock musical at Gilmorehill G12, Glasgow, from May 12-16.

“Rent” tells the story of a group of impoverished artists and musicians struggling to create and survive in New York’s Lower East Side in the thriving days of the Bohemian East Village, under the shadow of AIDS.

Gary says his role has been very challenging and added: “My character is a musician who is also a former heroin addict.

“He is a very complex character to play and it has definitely been my toughest role to date but I’m loving every minute of it. ‘Rent' is a very controversial show as it tackles issues such as drug addiction, sexuality and AIDS but it's also, surprisingly, a very heart-warming show and is as much about friendship, relationships and love.

“We have an amazing cast and production team and I really hope people come to see it because it truly is an amazing piece of theatre.”

The 24-year-old has been busy since his role last November as 'Roddy' in the musical “Boogie Nights” at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow.

He said: “After ‘Boogie Nights’, I went on to do four plays with the Lanarkshire-based theatre company Bookends at the start of the year which included acclaimed plays such as‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' and ‘Whose Life Is It Anyway?’ ”

Gary, who is also a singer/songwriter, was honoured to play at a charity ladies night at Celtic Park in February in aid of the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust.

He said: “It was definitely one of the best gigs I've ever played because how often do you get the chance to play to an audience of 300 women?

“My set went down amazingly well, so much so that I've been asked to play Celtic Park again at the end of May for an end-of-season bash.

“I've taken a bit of stick from my Rangers-supporting friends about these gigs and also appearing in the Celtic View as I'm a diehard Rangers fan but I have just laughed it off.”

Tickets for “Rent” can be bought online by logging on to www.pantheontheatre.co.uk/rent.

Alternatively, telephone the box office on 0141 330 5522.