Youth spring into action

OLD Nick Theatre Company‘s latest production might be set in the 19th century, but director Jack Lark says its themes are still very relevant today. The company’s Hobart Theatre Summer School will present Spring Awakening at the Peacock Theatre from today.

Spring Awakening is a rock musical based on the 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind.

With only each other for guidance, a group of young men and women travel the fraught and rocky path of adolescence, discovering their bodies, their minds and themselves along the way. An electric, vibrant celebration of youth and rebellion,

Spring Awakening fuses issues of morality, sexuality and rock and roll into a story that packs an emotional punch.

Spring Awakening showcases some of Hobart’s up-andcoming talent between the ages of 16 and 21, representing 10 public, Catholic and independent educational institutions.

The show is directed by young co-directors Lark and Finn Carter, while the experienced Andrew Morrisby is in charge of vocal and musical direction.

Lark, 21, said rehearsals for Spring Awakening began in January.

“The theme of the show is the problems that arise when we don’t educate our youth properly and give them the power of knowledge,” Lark said. “Although it’s set in 1890, it’s still very relevant today. “We moved into the theatre [on Sunday] after rehearsing at Old Nick in Letitia St, and it’s all suddenly real — we’ve got the set and we’ve got a band and we’ve got costumes and lights, so it’s everything that we need to put on a good show.”

Spring Awakening is running for a limited season of 10 shows only between today and March 2 at the Peacock Theatre. Tickets are $35, available from trybooking.com/ZHMT