A controversial Spring Awakening

The company of Spring Awakening. Photo by Richard Smith.

Spring Awakening at The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa from 2 – 12 April 2025. Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater. Music by Duncan Sheik. Based on the 1891 play by Frank Wedekind. Directed by Chris Gilbey-Smith. Musical Direction by James Suckling.

Review by Ann Evans

Spring Awakening, is one of those Marmite productions. You are either going to love it or hate it. It’s a powerful rock musical that tells of teenage adolescence, puberty and sexual awareness. It’s a production that shies away from nothing. Its themes include verbal, physical and sexual abuse, abortion, suicide and more – all disturbing and tragic situations that various characters face in this story. And what comes across in every case, is that the blame falls on the shoulders of the society that the characters are living in at that time with all its hypocrisy, repression and double standards.

In the classroom. Photo by Richard Smith.

The story is set around the 1890s in Germany in a fiercely strict society, where intimacy outside of marriage is condemned. The play opens with Wendla (Annabel Pilcher) singing Mama Who Bore Me, a cry to have the facts of life explained to her. From that very first song the excellent calibre of the music and singing in this play is evident and I was eager to hear more.

It's worth saying that while the characters are portrayed as being aged around 14, the actors are all adults. The story sees Wendla begging her mother (Elaine Freeborn) to explain how babies are made, and while the conversation is humorous, her mother can't bring herself to explain anything more than you must love your husband very much. Wendla is none the wiser, and later in the story this has tragic consequences for her.

Wendla and Melchior. Photo by Richard Smith.

Switching to the boys school, pupil Melchior Gabor played by Nathan Dowling wants to change this world, he intends to try and create a more open, educated society. He is a clever studious boy, who in difference to all his male classmates has more understanding of his sexuality. Whereas the others are pretty much obsessed and frustrated with what’s happening to their minds and bodies, he has more confidence.

Warning that there are sexual activities on stage that could offend. However, this is the crux of the story, it is all about adolescence and personal, sexual discovery, and the Director, Chris Gilbey-Smith does not pull any punches! Agreed that some scenes are definitely something of an eye-opener, they are either portrayed with humour or sensitivity.

Moritz, Melchior and Wendla. Photo by Richard Smith.

I can’t praise the seven-piece band and the singing of the cast highly enough whether singing solo, in harmony or the whole cast absolutely raising the roof with their voices and the passion behind their vocals. Special mention must go to Nathan Dowling (Melchior), Annabel Pilcher (Wendla), Rosie Pankhurst (Ilse) and Martha Allen-Smith (Martha) whose voices are beautiful.

A Latin lesson is underway in the boys’ school and their teacher, Herr Stonnenstitch (Michael Barker) is a vicious cane-swinging individual who has a particular dislike for student Moritz Stiefel (Luca Catena), later deliberately failing him in his exams – an action that leads to tragic consequences for the boy who is already struggling with a physically aggressive father and erotic dreams which he fears is some kind of madness.

Martha (Martha Allen-Smith) and Ilse Rosie Pankhurst. Photo by Richard Smith.

Outside of school, the girls are mostly very innocent and naïve. Those who aren’t are victims of abuse from their own adult family members. As the story progresses, we see the friendships developing between certain characters - the main couple being Melchior and Wendla - who eventually become intimate - a mutual desire on both their parts, even though Wendla still has no idea that this is how babies are made.

The story continues, becoming more heart wrenching and tragic with the passion, frustrations and anger coming out through the music, lyrics and choreography which are tremendous - and like the rest of the production, controversial! There are 19 songs, amongst them are: The Bitch of Living; Touch Me; The Dark I Know Well; The Guilty Ones - and the finale, the beautiful The Song of Purple Summer.

With themes and story threads that deal with sexuality, mastabation, aggression, abuse, abortion and suicide, to say this musical is controversial would be an understatement. Over the years it’s known to have been banned or censored in some places. But it's also won numerous awards and accolades. This musical might be for you – or it might not. On Saturday night the audience were on their feet giving the cast a standing ovation, and I have to admit my applause was pretty loud too! But the choice is yours!

For ticket please go to: https://lofttheatrecompany.com/