Almeida to stage first London revival of Spring Awakening

The first London revival of the Broadway hit Spring Awakening is one of six new productions planned for the new season at London’s Almeida Theatre.

Directed by the venue’s artistic director Rupert Goold with a cast including Amara Okereke winner of the 2018 Stage Debut Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Les Misérables and Laurie Kynaston (winner of the 2019 Evening Standard Award for Emerging Talent for The Mother at Kiln Theatre and in the West End), the new version will run from 30 November 2021 until 22 January 2022.

Spring Awakening boasts a book and lyrics by playwright and lyricist Steven Sater and music composed by singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik. Based on German playwright Frank Wedekind’s controversial 19th century play, the original 2006 Broadway production won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. The show’s first West End production in 2009 won four Olivier Awards including Best Musical.

Announcing the new season, Goold said: “Although still battered and bruised by the last 14 months, and keenly aware that many within this industry continue to suffer as a result of the pandemic, this announcement today feels like an exhalation and moment to pay tribute to the endurance and creativity shown by so many friends and colleagues.

“We’re announcing six new productions, including three world premieres (four if you include Hymn which plays to in-person audiences for the first time), plus two classic revivals, and a list of writers, directors and actors who are largely new to the Almeida.

“As with our brief re-opening to audiences in December last year, considerable work has gone into ensuring that the theatre is safe and in line with the latest Covid government guidelines, including upgraded fresh air ventilation. We will initially go on sale with social distancing in place and this will be reviewed as the government guidelines change.

“It’s particularly exciting to announce Almeida For Free performances across the whole season, with all tickets for those performances available for free to anyone 25 and under, alongside our long-standing commitment of £5 tickets for those aged 25 and under across all runs.

“I want to thank everyone that has supported us since we first closed the theatre in March 2020. We wouldn’t be here without you. We can’t wait to fully open again as a theatre for London and Islington and are delighted that we can pay tribute to some of our extraordinary local residents in January 2022 with The Key Workers Cycle. Over the coming months we will be recruiting local community participants to get involved with the production.”

Produced in partnership with All Change and Clean Break, The Key Workers Cycle is a collection of new single plays written by Francesca Beard, Sonali Bhattacharyya, Josh Elliott, Annie Jenkins, Eno Mfon, Nessah Muthy, Danusia Samal, Yomi Ṣode and Molly Taylor celebrating the stories of those who kept on working during the pandemic. Performed by professional actors, local community participants and key workers, The Key Workers Cycle will run from 31 January to 5 February.

Angela Thomas