FROM Cabaret to Sweeney Todd to Chicago, creators of musicals seem to revel in setting a dark tale to a score littered with big production numbers and triumphant crescendos.

And Rent pulls out all of those stops.

4th Wall Productions takes on the challenging musical, which sees a group of bohemian types in Aids-beset New York struggle to make a dime and to dodge life's arrows, at Penyrheol Theatre from today at 7pm.

The company's artistic director Dean Verbeck says it is a challenge to get the balance of pathos, comedy and realism right, with a rock musical set among a community hit by HIV, but they have it covered.

"We were supposed to put this show on in September, but then I got the part in Cappuccino Girls so we had to postpone it. But we carried on with rehearsals one day a week so by the time the show came around this month we knew those characters so well.

"So we have been able to really bring out their personalities and the emotion of the story.

"This a difficult subject but there are lots of very funny moments and a wonderful set and great songs."

Rent continues until Saturday, with performances at 7.30pm.