Spring Awakening Swindon Young Actors.

The Platform Spring Awakening is a new musical by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater and is the winner of 8 Tony awards including Best Musical. It is based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial 19th century play, which was banned for 71 years due to its frank portrayal of abortion, homosexuality, rape and suicide. Swindon Young Actors performed it over four nights last week as their tenth anniversary production, at the Platform: home of our young people’s activities.

The logistics of getting a full scale musical in this venue must have been a nightmare. I have to say all the hard work paid off. These youngsters are a very talented bunch. Having worked with young people myself for many years, directors Mark Flitton and Julia Dickenson have my utmost admiration for a job well done.

These young people can certainly sing and act; all of them.

A good band (if at times a little too loud) was ably kept together by M.D. Gary Cubberly on keyboards.

I have to say that because of the content of this musical the body language and comments by many of the audience around me showed a certain amount of embarrassment.

It is not often that I leave a show in the interval. (parking for this venue is a nightmare) In this case I had seen enough to know that this young group of actors have a talent that is second to none. Adults take note. Directing, lighting, costume and all aspects of the production was excellent.

I’m sure that many of the audience thoroughly enjoyed this production. However, overheard comments from grown ups, and some teenagers on my way out were that they found it a little uncomfortable to see young people making out quite so explicitly.

All that said I look forward to this companies next offering. They are indeed a talented bunch with exceptional teaching at the helm.

Ros Hollands