Spring Awakens for Transfer from Lyric???

In a last-minute change to the programme for our Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Awards Concert on Sunday, the company of Spring Awakening was unable to perform for production reasons – a withdrawal that drew groans of disappointment when announced at the start of the concert (though the audience seemed more than placated by the end of the action-packed evening’s entertainment).

However, things seem to be going well for the show’s long-anticipated West End transfer following its current, extended run at west London’s Lyric Hammersmith (See The Goss, 24 Apr 2008), where it opened to rave reviews on 3 February (previews from 23 January) and is currently booking until 14 March 2009 (See Review Round-up, 5 Feb 2009).

The alt-rock musical, which is based on Frank Wedekind’s 1891 play of the same name about teenage sexual discovery, has music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. Set in 19th-century Germany, the story centres on brilliant student Melchior, his troubled friend Moritz and Wendla, a beautiful girl on the verge of womanhood.

The UK premiere production is directed by Michael Mayer, choreographed by Bill T Jones – from the reunited New York creative team – and stars newcomers Charlotte Wakefield, Iwan Rheon and Aneurin Barnard, who are expected to reprise their performances in the West End. The most likely new home for the musical is the Novello Theatre, where the Royal Shakespeare Company finishes its winter residency on 7 March 2009.