Sydney Theatre Company and Medina Apartment Hotels in association with PowerArts present
Spring Awakening
A New Musical
Book and lyrics by Steven Sater Music by Duncan Sheik
Based on the original play by Frank Wedekind
Based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial play of 1891, this bold new musical tells the tale of a group of teenagers embarking on the thrilling, turbulent transition from youth to adulthood.
Wendla begs her mother to explain where babies come from only to be fobbed off with mumblings about ‘the stork’. Melchior, more advanced in his sexual education, has been studying diagrams that would bring tears to the eyes of his elders. On a stormy, spring afternoon Wendla and Melchior succumb to desire. Fumbling their way into one another’s arms, they learn the joys of sexual awakening. Only later will they learn of its potential to devastate.
A surprise smash-hit on Broadway, Spring Awakening won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and has since become a music theatre phenomenon throughout the world, garnering a cult following wherever it has travelled. Driven by an exceptional score ranging from power ballads to grunge anthems that capture the spine-tingling highs and lows of youthful desire, this exuberant musical has all the energy of a rock concert and all the power of a great drama.
A new generation of performers – cast from open auditions across Australia – burst on to the Sydney Theatre stage for the hotly-anticipated Australian premiere of Spring Awakening. It may be 1891 but when these exceptional singers burst into song they express electric inner worlds that will be instantly recognisable to anyone who is – or ever was – a teenager.
Visit the official Spring Awakening Australia website here.
Become a fan of the Spring Awakening Facebook page here.
Follow Spring Awakening on Twitter here.
2 Hours 15 Minutes, Including Interval
Occasional strong language and sexual references. Recommended for audiences aged 15 and over.
Photos: Brett Boardman
Reviews
"...this local production of the musical that has taken Broadway and the West End by storm works brilliantly. The young Spring Awakening cast are fantastic... Spring Awakening deals with topics such as suicide and teen sex, so it almost seems wrong to have enjoyed it so much." - The Daily Telegraph
"This one will live on, vividly, in my heart, as well as memory." - Australian Stage
"The STC, to its absolute credit, has made their production of the musical their own, delivering a very impressive and stylised piece of musical theatre..... Well done Cate and Andrew, Spring Awakening was a risk well worth taking!" - Citysearch
"Spring Awakening is a powerful show with plenty of spark, and whilst it will not appeal to everyone, it is a fine production that sits well at the Sydney Theatre" - AussieTheatre.com
"Spring Awakening is sexy, celebratory, dark, moving, troubling, ultimately redemptive and, for mine, compulsive viewing." - Stage Whispers
Your Say
We invite you to submit your comments regarding this production here. Submissions may be published on this page of the website.
Thank you for your submission. If you would like to receive regular email updates from Sydney Theatre Company,
click here.
Impressive, talented, young cast - the set, costumes etc were very different to what I imagined but it exceeded all expectations! Excellent production. - Stephanie
I loved this show...it was wonderful to have such a fresh production. It was exciting to see so much new talent. I'm sure we will continue to see many of these young performers as they develop and get more experience. Congratulations to all involved. - Cathy
After listening to the songs way to many times my friend and I eventually saw this musical... IT WAS AMAZING!! A few scenes were not as I expected, but by golly it was wonderful! - Caitlin
We absolutely loved it every minute of it! It was a very special and exciting experience. We met and chatted with the two gorgeous lead actors who played the young lovers in the street, later that afternoon, which made it even more memorable! - Kendra
Absolutely fantastic! The cast were compelling and the emotion so real and poignant. I would recommend this to anyone, even people who are reluctant to attend musicals. The first statement I made as we came out of the production was that I could come again. This production is incredibly moving and relevant. - Ros
Wow.. what a fantastic play! i was a little doubtful at first, considering it was a musical and all.. but it was really awesome to see younger people putting on such a professional production! great set design! really good acting, strong singing, really interesting themes and morally confronting issues. a great production! - Daniel
Oh my goodness! This was the most amazing musical I have ever seen. I saw this on the 10th Feb and it was the highlight of my school drama excursion. Amazing vocal artists and actors. Plus all the guys were total hotties!!! - Emilee
Absolutely thrilled to see the Australian adaptation of this fantastic musical after seeing it in New York. Really is something to watch! - Christine
Very impressed with the standard here. Pretty demanding production for a young cast and particularly good choreography. Worth seeing again late in the season. - Verne
Just just awesome. i went and saw spring awakening and sat in the front row and it was just, really really grand. =] - Soraya-joy
We were taken on a teenage emotion roller coaster. It was a fantastic journey worth another ride! - Luke
I'm 24... and in recent years have not been too thrilled about theatre and some big named productions i have seen! Purchasing tickets i didnt quite know what to expect but upon leaving felt uplifted and excited by the thought and quality put into this performance... bloody briliant! Great job - Matthew
The energy was brilliant,the characters fantastic. More of these people please - Patricia
An excellent production, great music and very well performed. I highly recommend it! - Marni
We (and there are 5 of us in our group) thought it was excellent. The actors were enthusiastic and the play presented several issues which had us talking on the way home. However what we liked was that while it was evident that these issues were raised they were presented in a non-confronting manner and the messages were still clearly observable. It certainly would have been a very provocative play when set and performed in the 1890s but shows that these issues still exist today. Congratulations to the young cast - the 3 main actors were superb - Anna & Michael
Spring Awakening was a surprise. I wasn't expecting the energy and sheer joy of performing shown by all of the young cast. The music was catchy and appropriate to the action in the play. The issues addressed were meaningful, even in our more enlightened (?) times. Like a West Side Story reborn. Loved it. - Norma
I thought it was fantastic. Too see so much young talent on one stage was great. The storyline still resonates with young people today and I loved every minute. - Karen
Loved it. As a Grandmother I was very pleased to see so many young ones in the audience - great to see that they are being exposed to quality theatre which addresses issues just as relevant to today's young as they were in the age portrayed. - Eileen
I went to Spring Awakening with no real idea about what to expect but what a fantastic surprise. An unbelievable show and the young actors should be very very proud. Wonderful acting, singing and energy. Inspiring stuff dealing with quite confronting issues. I am recommending it to everyone I know. A fabulous start to the season STC!!! - Denise
