Spring Awakening 15th anniversary concert in West End reveals cast
A special 15th Anniversary Concert of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik’s award-winning musical Spring Awakening comes to the West End this summer.
The concert, honouring the original West End production, is set to be staged at Victoria Palace Theatre on Sunday 2 June 2024.
Meet the cast
Returning cast members from the original West End production include Lucy May Barker as Ilse, Natasha Barnes as Anna, Harry McEntire as Ernst, Hayley Gallivan as Martha, Evelyn Hoskins as Thea, Edward Judge as Otto, Jamie Muscato as Melchior, Jos Slovick as Georg, Charlotte Wakefield as Wendla and Richard Southgate as Hanschen.
Other returning cast members include Chris Barton, Natalie Garner, Mona Goodwin, Gemma O’Duffy and Richard Southgate.
Joining them are Jack Wolfe (Next to Normal), as Moritz and original West End cast member
Tickets are on sale now from victoriapalacetheatre.co.uk
Spring Awakening, a riveting tale of adolescent rebellion and discovery, features one of the most acclaimed scores of the 21st century. The story centres around a group of teenagers navigating the challenges of a repressive society, leading them to explore a world filled with emotion and freedom, but not without poignant consequences.
The musical made its Broadway debut at the Eugene ONeill Theatre on 10 December 2006 with Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, and John Gallagher Jr. in leading roles. It garnered widespread acclaim, winning eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Following its North American tour in 2008, Spring Awakening opened in London at the Lyric Hammersmith in January 2009, later moving to the Novello Theatre. The London production won four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. Subsequent revivals in Broadway and London took place in 2015 and 2021, respectively.
Duncan Sheik said: “Spring Awakening is the first musical I worked on that managed to get to Broadway and then the West End. Being in London in 2009 for opening night at the Novello with that young and amazing cast was one of the highlights of my life. It is more than exciting that 15 years on, London gets to experience this anniversary concert and I’m honoured that I can be some small part of that.”
Steven Sater said: “My youthful dream was to be a part of the theatre in London. So for me, our brilliant original production of Spring Awakening at the Lyric, and then at the Novello, was an answered prayer. Fifteen years later, to bring back that production for a one-night-only anniversary concert, is like having that prayer answered all over again.”
This anniversary concert will also support a heartfelt cause. It aims to raise funds for Imogen Kinchin, one of the original producers of Spring Awakening in 2009 and a highly respected figure in the theatre world. Kinchin, who has been battling Stage IV Bowel Cancer, was a pivotal force in the shows success and has been described as an extraordinary warrior amidst her illness. The concert proceeds will be donated to Imogen’s Fund, established to support her treatment and family. Contributions can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/imogens-fund.
Jamie Armitage (SIX) directs the anniversary concert, with musical direction by Nigel Lilley, known for his work in Newsies, Next to Normal, and The Witches. Spring Awakening is produced by Jack Maple and Evelyn Hoskins.
