ATYP presents: Spring Awakening The Musical
An electrifying fusion of rebellion, sexual awakening and rock and roll – The Australian Theatre for Young People delivers Spring Awakening The Musical to Sydney audiences for a limited two week run.
This rock ‘n’ roll musical with a folk-infused score tells the story of teenagers in late 19th Century Germany who find themselves thrust into the tumultuous nature of teenage sexuality while they are simultaneously frustrated by the unwillingness of any of the adults around them to teach them anything substantial about ‘the facts of life’.
The musical reached Broadway fame in 2006 (with book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik), but Spring Awakening first came to life as a stage play penned by German dramatist Frank Wedekind in the 1890s.
ATYP alumnus and award-winning director Mitchell Butel returns to direct a young cast billed as “the musical theatre stars of tomorrow”. No strangers to the sexually charged subject matter, this will be ATYP’s third production of Spring Awakening and the first in its musical form (the earlier productions taking place in the 80s).
Since its inception Spring Awakening has often been banned and censored due to its controversial subject matter, it criticises the sexually oppressive culture of its day and the musical adaption only heightens the vivid dramatization of erotic fantastic bred by that oppression.
Will audiences in 2016 be as shocked and appalled as the original critics by the revelation that teenagers are sexual beings? There still are many institutions today that would rather insist on abstinence over a healthy sexual education for young people, so who knows… (AM)
Recommended for audiences aged 14+.
Apr 27–May 14, various show times. ATYP Studio 1, Pier 4/5 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay. $35. Tickets & info: atyp.com.au or 02 9270 2400
