Following its UK premiere run at the Lyric Hammersmith, the youth musical Spring Awakening is to transfer to the Novello theatre from 21 March (press night 26 March) with a new reduced-price ticket scheme for 15 to 19 year-olds.
Based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial 19th century play about teenage sexual awakening, Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s new musical Spring Awakening combines the period setting with a contemporary rock score to tell the story of three angst-ridden teens whose adolescent passion is set against a backdrop of religious and parental repression.
The musical was a multiple Tony Award-winning success when it premiered on Broadway. The UK production, created by the entire Broadway creative team including director Michael Mayer and choreographer Bill T Jones, opened at the Lyric Hammersmith on 3 February featuring a young British cast, many of whom were making their professional stage debuts.
Following the end of the run at the Lyric Hammersmith on 14 March, the entire cast will transfer to the Novello theatre. Charlotte Wakefield, Iwan Rheon and Aneurin Barnard lead the cast, with Sian Thomas and Richard Cordery playing all the adult roles.
In an unusual move for a commercial production, the producers of Spring Awakening are introducing a youth ticket scheme for the run at the Novello theatre, with 15 to 19 year-olds able to purchase best available seats for £20 (£15 on Wednesday matinees) for all performances.
Spring Awakening opens at the Novello following the end of the annual residency of the Royal Shakespeare Company, whose production of The Taming Of the Shrew plays there until 7 March.
Spring Awakening is booking at the Novello theatre until 31 October.
CB