Bristol's Backstage Company will be one of the first in the field to present the award-winning rock musical Rent, which has just been released to local theatre enthusiasts.

Trying to get this modern reworking of the opera La Boheme, with the Aids epidemic of the 1980s replacing the 18th-century killer disease tuberculosis on stage is almost as dramatic a story as the show itself.

In 1984, after years of trying to obtain backing for his creation, Jonathan Larson, who wrote the book, lyrics and music, finally saw it have a three-week run in New York's Theatre Workshop. Sadly the night before it opened off Broadway the following year, Jonathan Larson died.

It reached Broadway in April of 1996 and ran for 5,124 performances, picking up a Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards and two Drama Desk Awards on the way.

Director-choreographer Vicki Klein, musical director Julian Edgell and designer Matt Jeanes, who are presenting this dramatic rock musical at the Olympus Theatre between July 14 and 18, will be holding auditions for young men this coming Sunday (January 4) at All Saints Fishponds between 2pm and 6pm.

No shortage of girls already in the company but there are some wonderful roles up for grabs for men between the ages of 20 and 30 including Angel Dumott Schunard, the transvestite and two of the other leading characters.

If you are outside that age range but can look either younger or older, then you are still in with a shout and should ring 07970775595 if you would like to arrange an audition.

Unusually in a modern show the emphasis is on singing and acting rather than dancing. As usual with Backstage, the rehearsal schedule will be tight and short, most of the work being condensed into the two long weekends prior to the opening night.

Last year Backstage suffered the disappointment of losing three different shows because of contractual difficulties and they are looking forward to making a comeback with this show, which has only been seen a couple of times in this part of the world presented by professional companies.