Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind
Translated from the German by Francis J. Ziegler. In a version by Stefanie Preissner and Gyuri Vidowsky
Age range
16 +
Cast size
15 +
Approx. running time
90 mins +
Gender breakdown
Male: 11
Female: 6
Also: There are 4 adult characters, 2 male, 2 female. Some characters are more choral than others.
Female: 6
Also: There are 4 adult characters, 2 male, 2 female. Some characters are more choral than others.
Setting
Various.
Note
A full-length drama about coming of age for a medium sized group.
First performance
Dublin Youth Theatre, 2014 as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival.
Synopsis
Spring Awakening is a story of teenagers on the road of self-discovery. Set in a world where ‘parents know best’ it is a tough coming-of-age drama dealing with issues such as sexuality, repressive society, youth suicide, and more.
Melchior seems to know everything about sex from books he has found on his parents’ shelves. His friend, Moritz is the opposite: his parents are extremely strict, which is why the boy suffers from an unbearable self-guilt. Wendla is treated by her Mum as a little girl when it comes to sexuality, so she misinterprets the explanation about how pregnancy happens. Their friends and classmates have similar issues going on in their lives.
This European classic was written (in 1891) as a socially critical, satirical drama. This updated version strips away much of the dense text of the original and as such makes it a more accessible version for performers and audiences alike.
The play features several themes and scenes of a disturbing nature including physical abuse, rape and suicide. It is recommended for young people aged 16+ who have a good grounding in theatre and drama, working with an experienced director.
Melchior seems to know everything about sex from books he has found on his parents’ shelves. His friend, Moritz is the opposite: his parents are extremely strict, which is why the boy suffers from an unbearable self-guilt. Wendla is treated by her Mum as a little girl when it comes to sexuality, so she misinterprets the explanation about how pregnancy happens. Their friends and classmates have similar issues going on in their lives.
This European classic was written (in 1891) as a socially critical, satirical drama. This updated version strips away much of the dense text of the original and as such makes it a more accessible version for performers and audiences alike.
The play features several themes and scenes of a disturbing nature including physical abuse, rape and suicide. It is recommended for young people aged 16+ who have a good grounding in theatre and drama, working with an experienced director.