A SMASH-HIT musical making its first ever UK tour is on its way to Blackpool later in the year.

Rent, a controversial, semi-autobiographical tale of life in 80s New York, has been snapped up for Blackpool's Grand Theatre in November.

The show, which was inspired by Puccini's opera La Boheme, played last week to packed audiences at Manchester's Palace Theatre.

In Jonathan Larson's powerful piece, La Boheme's tuberculosis has been swapped for AIDS and the young and creative of the Big Apple are rioting over spiralling rent increases in Alphabet City on the poorer side of town.

One set of flatmates -- who couldn't be further from a certain set of six NY residents currently sporting designer gear and fabulous hair cuts on Channel 4 every Friday night -- take us through one year of all the hilarious highs and heart-breaking lows of city life.

From potty performance artist Maureen (wonderfully played by Lucy Williamson) to the athletic antics of heroin addict and dancer Mimi Marquez (Debbie Kurup) or the adorably outrageous transvestite Angel (Neil Couperthwaite) -- who could step into a top spot at Funny Girls tomorrow -- every character is based on someone writer and creator Larson knew before his tragic death of an aortic aneurysm in January 1996 aged just 35. Former Coronation Street star and teen pop idol Adam Rickitt is a revelation as narrator and central character Mark Cohen, the budding film maker who is tempted to sell out his friends when fame and fortune calls.

A cross between Jason Donovan and Darren Day, Adam is a certain musical hit, but will he make it to Blackpool before his voice gives out?

One to certainly hope will get a ticket to Blackpool is the delicious Damien Flood as frustrated rock and roll singer Roger Davis.

You may not know his name now but the voice and the face will stay in the memory for sure as will sensational numbers La Vie Boheme, Seasons of Love and One Song Glory.

You can't buy talent but you can sure as hell rent it for the week. Rent runs at Blackpool Grand Theatre from November 19. Call the box office on 290190 for booking and ticket details.