“Spring Awakening” by Regis Theatre Company
Duchess Theatre

Finally I have managed to get to see this wonderful musical which was banned after it was performed at the turn of the century with the story written back in 1891. Set in late 19th Century Germany it tells of a group of teenagers and their various awakenings to their own bodies and feelings.

This is a musical that you do not want to go and see if you are depressed or have a sharp implement in your purse, because this is dark with a capital "D". It's also powerful with a capital "P"

It has a certain shock element but maybe that is because when you think of the term musical you expect happy endings and jazz hands, and this has neither, but what a refreshing change to see

something so honest which slaps you around the face and hypnotises you all at the same time.

We’ve all had to go through puberty and the problems this causes on an individual basis, so this is one musical that we can all relate to in one way or another.

We've all had crushes, be it gay, bi or straight and we've all fallen in love and done things we shouldn't have done, so this play should affect everyone who sees it.

There’s humour as well as deeply poignant moments, especially surrounding Wendla’s and Melchior’s story, but every character has a story to tell and often not easy to hear and watch, especially Martha’s tale.

The story is controversial, even today, and with the themes depicted, which are of a mature and adult nature, you’d think that this play isn’t for children, but, depending on the child, I feel it should be a piece of theatre that should be open to them, even if it’s as an educational tool, but then you have to know your child well enough to judge.

In today’s age, it would be naive to think that your kids don’t know, or at least think about the stuff in this play, which is why, even after all this time from its origin, it is still has great relevance to all ages and makes you think nowadays how lucky we were and today's kids are.

The cast is superb and there are parts which must not have been easy or comfortable for them to play

Ruth Kniveton (Wendla) and Paddy Stafford (Melchior) had a kind of magic onstage and their plight, together and separately really touched you. Both have wonderfully pure voices with lovely control and range, at times though lost in the sound mix, especially in the quieter, spoken parts of the incredible soundtrack. Their emotive scenes will tear you up, especially in the second act.

Oliver Wheddon (Otto), Andrew Bould (Ernst), Hattie Kemmish (Martha),Kheenan Jones (Georg), Tammie Morgan (Ilse), Jack Readyhoof(Moritz), Anna McAuley (Anna), Molly Hewitt-Richards (Thea), Ruby Crawford (Greta), Sky Marsden (Melita), Matt Powell (Hanschen), Joe Morley (Bobbi) were just phenomenal as the kids with Adam Guest, Graham Buchanan, Milly Shawcross, Louise McGowan and Verna Bayliss as the adults, who also turned in some very uneasy to watch performances, Uneasy in the best possible terms by the way.

There are a couple of sections that use sign language which add another layer to this production. I know a smidgen of BSL and know it's not easy to master at the rate they did, but Milly Shawcross obviously did a great job with the cast.

Ollie Turner is the Producer and Director assisted by Matt Powell who also choreographs the musical. The choreography is contemporary and, again, hypnotic, and I love the punk element of one of the pieces.

They use the stage well and also utilises the auditorium as well. they have created a monster of a show to follow, but I know the talent on the production side, so know that they will relish whatever they take on next

Tom Watkins is the Musical Director and the band sounded gorgeous. The soundtrack is gorgeous anyway.

The sound at times was a little messy in places, but I imagine with the amount of people onstage, Tom Olding, didn't have the easiest of jobs on sound, so there's no way I'm going to say anything derogatory because I know how hard the job is to juggle the sound, and that makes me appreciate his hard work.

I'm not sure who was the set designer but I loved it and watch out for the complete redesign of the set in Act Two!

Because of the content of this musical there is a guidance advised for younger theatre goers, but I've seen and heard worse on stage, and it was all done tastefully.

It's one musical that I have been longing to see for a long while and I was not disappointed one iota as it's an important piece of theatre which will, at times, shock you, mainly from the attitudes and actions of the adults rather than the "kids" in the play

And before I sign off I must also mention the lovely, friendly front of house staff, as I feel they should also be recognised for all the hard work they do. Where would any local theatre group be without them?

“Spring Awakening” is at the Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton until Saturday 8 September 2018.