REVIEW | Spring Awakening, Curve Theatre.

If your a fan of productions which are energetic, powerful and full of emotion then National Youth Music Theatre's performance of Spring Awakening is the one for you.

Spring Awakening has been on my list of musicals to see since I can remember and with eight Tony Awards under its belt, including one for Best Musical there's something about its reputation that makes you want to see it for yourself. 

Performed by the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT), Curve thrives on supporting emerging talent even through their own individual programmes including their Curve Young Company. So it's no surprise that Curve are thrilled to be working alongside with National Youth Music Theatre in their 40th anniversary year. Both organisations are well committed and passionate in providing young people with the access to theatre and the opportunities to take part and reach their individual potential within the sector. NYMT are one of Curve's Associate Artists and it's a collaboration that Curve are proud of.

The musical itself comes from the German play Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind. Published in 1981 the play sent shock waves through the fin de siecle (end of the 19th century) German society, which was apparently the issuing of a direct challenge to the Establishment. We go with the young people through this story as they make the journey from adolescence and exposing the damage which is done when sexual oppression and abuse take place.

Nearly 100 years later when Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater create a musical version of the play, they create a masterpiece of contemporary theatre that is no less powerful and emotive than when the play was first published. The rock music score helps to offer an insight into the experiences of these intelligent and highly imaginative young people. We experience tragedy as well as being exposed to child abuse, isolation and desperation which is equally matched up by an amazing amount of optimism, a nod to diversity, acceptance and the strength of love.

The soundtrack for this musical was my absolute favourite element of the musical, all of the songs perfectly aligned the storyline and helped pull it together to create an unforgettable performance.

I loved their creativity within the set structure and how this played a part within setting various scenes throughout the musical, it was a really contemporary/modern design. Having this performance play in the Curve Theatre's studio it really helped in creating an intimate and powerful watch. I thought their use of props and music instruments added a really nice atmosphere and structure to the musical that made it easier for an audience to understand the storyline with.

I couldn't compliment the strengths of all of the cast involved but was particularly pulled towards the rawness and emotional performance given by the character Moritz Stiefel, played by a very strong individual Toby Turpin. I'm really excited to see where this young man heads as he was just stunning in portraying a character which became defeated by all that restricted his future. His suicide scene was so emotional and powerful that I felt every ounce of pain he was experiencing.

The funeral scene where the ensemble sing Left Behind was such an emotional piece that even I had tears rolling down my face. It was such a beautiful song and definitely my favourite from the musical.

Also big shoutout to Tim Mahendran who plays Otto and Stuart Thompson who plays Hanschen Rilow, both boys had the most beautiful and most engaging tone in their singing voice that I loved listening to when they came into the space. Stuart had real strength in conveying a young, gay man who is clear in his feelings and emotions.

All in all, you could not agree more the strength in all of the young people on that stage and what they created within their performance of Spring Awakening. I'm really excited by the prospects for their future careers in performing.

Disclaimer: I was invited to the opening performance of Spring Awakening at Curve Theatre in Leicester in return for this post to be published. The photos are sourced from The Curve Theatre wesbite . All views are on my own.