Frank Wedekinds Spring Awakening will capture hearts in Limerick Youth Theatre February 27 – 28

Frank Wedekinds Spring Awakening is coming to the Limerick Youth Theatre’s Transition Year Theatre to wow us all this February 27- 28!

Frank Wedekinds Spring Awakening will capture hearts in Limerick Youth Theatre February 27 – 28, 2018

Limerick Youth Theatre’s Transition Year Theatre company proudly presents Frank Wedekinds Spring Awakening directed by Shane Hickey-O’Mara.
This is a modernist work which places the trials and tribulations of teenagers at its centre. addressing issues of mental illness, morality, abortion, abuse, suicide, sexuality, and consent.

This is a play about discovery, desire and the loss of innocence. Teenage friends share their insecurities and deepest fears. Children strive to make their parents proud. Young men and women, curious and confused by unfamiliar impulses, make rash decisions with heart-breaking consequences.

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Frank Wedekinds Spring Awakening: First performed in the author’s native Germany in 1906, Spring Awakening (German: Frühlings Erwachen) is a modernist work which places the trials and tribulations of teenagers at its centre. Addressing issues of mental illness; morality; abortion; abuse; suicide; sexuality; and consent, this is a play about discovery, desire and the loss of innocence. Teenage friends share their insecurities and deepest fears. Children strive to make their parents proud. Young men and women, curious and confused by unfamiliar impulses, make rash decisions with heart-breaking consequences.

Frank Wedekinds Spring Awakening was written at the end of the 19th century. This classic European drama casts a light on some of our own society’s enduring taboos and the difficult and often distressing journey through adolescence. In Wedekind’s play, the teenage characters suffer greatly due to the blindness of the adults in their lives, adults who set them adrift in a world that refuses to understand them, a world for which they are tragically ill-equipped and ill-prepared.

For over 112 years, this play has been adapted and staged worldwide, and in this powerful rendering, first performed by Dublin Youth Theatre, the play has once again been reinterpreted to be made relevant to a new generation of teenagers. This version was adapted by Gyuri Vidovsky and Stefanie Preissner. Working with 28 transition year students from schools in Limerick city and county, the play will be staged by the Transition Year Theatre (TYT) Company at Dance Limerick on 27 & 28 February 2018. Tickets are on sale for €10/€5 student/school bookings (on the door)

Shane Hickey-O’Mara says; ‘For me personally, the process involved in bringing Wedekind’s seminal work to the stage is the reward, and I find the prospect of being surrounded by a cast of twenty-eight young artists for an intensive rehearsal period hugely inspiring. At the heart of this process will be the task of instilling in these incredible young people an understanding of the importance of harnessing their empathy and imagination to create a supportive and dynamic ensemble environment. I am enjoying working with this year’s Transition Year Theatre (TYT) participants, by applying for this project they have already proven their bravery and commitment, qualities that have without question been instilled in them through the support of their educators and guardians.’

He added; ‘…last year, I had the good fortune of working as Assistant Director for Limerick Youth Theatre’s (LYT) production Frank Pig says Hello by Patrick McCabe and directed by Naomi O’Kelly. In that time, I was inspired by the enthusiasm and talent of the transition year group. This year, I will take up the director’s reigns, and with the assistance of LYT, and the knowledge and skills of fellow theatre-makers Emma Fisher; Ella Daly; Gearóid O’hAllmhurain; Sam Molony; Emily Waters; and Kerrie Ahern, I believe that together we have the ability to produce a work of art that will present a challenging and worthwhile experience for each participant and the spectators who attend the live performances.’

Angie Smalis, Artistic Director of LYT further commented; ‘I am delighted to have Shane Hickey-O Mara collaborating with LYT to produce Frank Wedekinds Spring Awakening for our TYT project. Shane is a young, passionate and ambitious director with experience in creating and presenting fresh and innovative theatre. The actors come from 6 different schools around the city and county, and from auditioning to creating and performing this challenging and thematically rich play, they will experience theatre making by being at the heart of the process. I am looking forward to seeing how this piece comes to life at Dance Limerick’s beautiful St John’s Church venue, and to being a part of the Q & A sessions (designed for TY students) and hearing what the young actors have to say about the process of creating an ensemble piece, as well their views on the themes of the play and how relevant they are to the young people’s lives in contemporary Ireland.’

To book Tickets now visit here

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