CONTROVERSIAL MUSICAL SPRING AWAKENING OPENS IN EXETER
A play banned in the 1960’s due to its celebration of adolescent sexuality and attacks on conventional morals, is making a comeback as one of the sexiest and most provocative musicals ever written. Spring Awakening opens its first ever UK tour at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre and following in the steps of other rock-opera musicals like Tommy and Rent is considered an anthem of today’s youth.
Spring Awakening walked away with a staggering eight Tony Awards after its New York run (2006-2009), including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score, as well as four Olivier Awards for the London production which premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith before transferring to the west end (2009). Above all, the musical has been heralded for its honest depiction of adolescence, sexuality, independence and the fear of not measuring up.
Set in Germany in the late 19th century, the story follows a group of teenagers who resort to sexual experimentation when they are given no guidance on how to deal with their blossoming erotic desires. The musical is based on the controversial 1891 play by Frank Wedekind and subtitled “A children’s tragedy.”
When the National Theatre attempted to stage a version of the play in 1964, it was stopped after a row came close to causing a permanent split between the theatre’s board and its creative team (led by Laurence Olivier), who battled to get the play past the official censor. The theatre urged the censor to admit the value of this “accepted classic of German drama”, a work that revealed the “danger of employing Victorian severity to prevent adolescents from discovering the facts of normal sexual life”. Today the musical has been praised as a cross-generational phenomenon that has broken down barriers between parents and teenagers, encouraging them to talk about the issues raised.
Spring Awakening was a massive hit on Broadway, launching the careers of several young stars including Lea Michele, who went on to play Rachel Berry in Glee. A world tour followed before the show eventually landed in London where the show was a huge critical success with the Daily Telegraph exclaiming: “Here it is at last, the answer to one’s prayers – a new musical bursting with ambition and achievement… IT’S A BLAST.” Daily Telegraph *****
Driven by a pulsating mash-up of rock, punk, blues, gospel and even folk and including the likes of Totally F**cked, The Guilty Ones, Bitch of Living and My Junk, this musical has the energy of a rock concert and the power of a great drama. The award-winning Sell a Door Theatre Company will be opening the first ever UK tour of this hit musical at the Exeter Northcott, before visiting the likes of Edinburgh, Stirling, Salford, Norwich and London.
It’s Skins meets Cabaret. Prepare to get hot under the collar…
Spring Awakening runs from Tues 17 to Sat 21 May with performances at 7.30pm each evening and a Saturday Matinee at 2,30pm.
Tickets: A £20 B 17 C £14.50 D £12
60+ £2 off/ Conc. HALF PRICE
Age: 14 yrs+ contains strong language and sexual references
Running Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
Tickets availalbe from the Exeter Northcott Box Office on 01392 493493 or www.exeternorthcott.co.uk
