Last night we attended a performance of the controversial Spring Awakening (1891), a play set in 19th Century Germany and based on an original play by Frank Wedekind, and adapted for a musical stage by Duncan Sheik and Steven Slater, at the Emporium in Brighton. The Emporium is an old church that has been converted into a performance space (with bar and restaurant), but like a lot of these things in Brighton its been done on the cheap, more like a pop-up performance space than anything else because there is no money available, just enthusiasm. Brighton is good like that, lots of get up and go performances with a huge shortage of plasterers and paintbrushesers. But none of this could take away from the performance itself. It was a Bird Studios presents production and while its all a very hand to mouth existence the production was superb. Great singing, acting and all round performing, and the sexually explicit scenes were well presented. We were invited by Kate Lavender whose son Curtis played the leading role to great acclaim, and I am so grateful because seeing such a cutting edge piece so close up, being performed so well was a rare treat. It is also a reminder that while the Arts Council and arts projects are always in the firing line when it comes to funding - especially from this government's political persuasion - good theatre will find its way through and onto the stage. A top event, well worth seeing and I am so glad I was there - ooh, smells like teen spirit.
