Controversial musical springs south

Sydney’s South is set for an in-your-face musical theatre experience when Shire Music Theatre presents Spring Awakening at Sutherland Memorial Arts Theatre from January 28.

Sydney’s South is set for an in-your-face musical theatre experience when Shire Music Theatre presents Spring Awakening at Sutherland Memorial Arts Theatre from January 28.

Spring Awakening deals with classic teen issues and the misuse of authority. The myth of “what you don’t know won’t hurt you” is thoroughly deconstructed in this new musical.

Based on the controversial Frank Wedekind play, Spring Awakening is set in provincial Germany in 1889, and centres around three teen characters; Melchior, Moritz and Wendla.

But don’t be fooled. Despite the humour, the fun and catchy music, this is an earthy, confronting and provocative rock musical. With strong language, nudity and very adult concepts, it features songs like ‘Bitch of Living’ and ‘Totally F***ed’.

Director Bridget Keating admits the company has come under fire for its daring choice of show.

“Wedekind’s play was banned for 100 years for a reason but I didn’t realise these views were still out there,” she said.

“Still, art is supposed to provoke and move people, make them feel and think. We just want to make sure our audiences are well-informed about what to expect.”

Melchior – an intelligent and avid student comes to the realisation that he is outgrowing his teachers and what they allow him to learn. Aware that his peers are confused and frustrated, he writes his own essay on the topic of sex, aptly named The Art of Sleeping With…, omplete with detailed illustrations. His most tormented friend, Moritz, a struggling student, becomes obsessed by the content so much so that he cannot think of anything else.  Wendla, a naive but curious girl, is frightened of her own growing fascination with the opposite sex. But these children are constantly let down by the people they have been told to trust. Without knowing why the rules are in place, their ignorant choices made with adolescent instinct are met with heavy punishment.

“The story is powerful in any setting but in our own ‘information age’ our empathy is even more heightened,” Keating said. 

“I love that the music runs so blatantly against the setting. It is empowering seeing these stuffy, frustrated, misinformed kids rocking it out despite the confines of their time.“

Spring Awakening is directed by Bridget Keating, musical director Rebecca Gordon and choreographer Joel Duffy. It stars Kate Selsby, Claire Janes, Kylie Loveday, Taylor Thomson, Ebony Black, Sam Larielle, Christopher Malliate, Andrew Fabris, Phil McIntosh, Jackson Eather, Jonathon Acosta, Berni Eather and Graham Yates.

Details: www.shiremusictheatre.org.au.