Photo Flash: In Rehearsal of SPRING AWAKENING at Hope Mill Theatre

'First look' photos from rehearsals of Spring Awakening have been released today ahead of the production's opening next week atHope Mill Theatre in Manchester.

An exciting cast and creative team has been assembled for the major UK revival of the acclaimed modern Broadway hit, which opens on Thursday 29 March at the award-winning Hope Mill Theatre.

Darragh Cowley as Melchior (professional debut ahead of graduating Guildford School of Acting, 2018), Adam Dawson as Hanschen (recently in Hair at Vaults, London), Beth Hinton-Lever as Thea (Graeae's Reasons to be Cheerful), Teleri Hughes as Ilse (professional debut, trained at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama), Nikita Johal as Wendla (Children of Eden, Princess Caraboo), Gillian Kirkpatrick as Adult Woman (Sunny Afternoon, American Psycho, Sweeney Todd), Luke Latchman as Ernst (Twelfth Night & A Christmas Carol at the RSC, Working), Tim Mahendran as Otto (professional debut ahead of graduating Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, 2018), Seyi Omooba as Martha (Ragtime, Little Beasts), Neil Stewart as Adult Man (Jersey Boys International Tour, Mrs Henderson Presents, Oresteia), Sophia Simoes Da Silva as Anna (professional debut), Jabez Sykes as Moritz (The Snow Queen, Kiss Me Quickstep) and Christian Tyler Wood as Georg (Jersey Boys International Tour, Big Girl's Don't Cry).

Following a casting process that took place across Manchester and London and included an open call out for submissions, Director Luke Sheppard has said: "We made a commitment to seeking out fresh new talent to bring Spring Awakening to life for a new generation, and after auditioning over 200 artists between London and Manchester, our cast embodies the bright future of musical theatre talent in Britain. It's a privilege to work with them on this extraordinary piece."

Luke Sheppard's previous work includes: Jersey Boys (International Tour); The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ (Leicester Curve and Menier Chocolate Factory); Working (Southwark Playhouse); Murder For Two (Watermill Theatre and The Other Palace); Peter And The Starcatcher (Royal & Derngate Theatre) and In The Heights (Winner of Three Olivier Awards 2016, Southwark Playhouse and King's Cross Theatre).

Spring Awakening has design by Gabriella Slade, musical direction by Gareth Bretherton, choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves, lighting design by Nic Farman, sound design by Leigh Davies, and casting by Verity Naughton. Associate Designer is Sarah Mercadé, and Assistant and Resident Director is Annabelle Hollingdale.

The production runs from Thursday 29 March to Thursday 3 May and is the second of five in-house musicals this year from the successful collaboration between Hope Mill Theatre founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton, and co-artistic director and resident producer Katy Lipson, of Aria Entertainment.

Spring Awakening is co-produced with DEM Productions. Associate Producers include Upstage Creative, Rachel Kraftman Productions and Project One.

Katy Lipson said: ""We are delighted to be producing Spring Awakening as our 7th in-house musical at Hope Mill Theatre since opening in 2016. For this production we are proud to be working with London producer DEM Productions and welcoming an incredibly exciting award winning creative team and company to the theatre."

Perhaps the defining musical of the last decade, Spring Awakening has music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater and combines an electrifying rock score and genre-defying writing to tell the story of sexual and adolescent discovery.

Silenced and dismissed in the firmly censored world of 19th century Germany, a group of teenagers are forced to discover the truth behind their feelings unaided. They find that through each other they unlock a bold and brave new world - with both beautiful and tragic consequences.

Produced by Hope Mill Theatre founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton and co-artistic director and resident producer Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment, and Ramin Sabi for DEM Productions.

Following Spring Awakening is Andrew Lloyd Webber's romantic classic Aspects of Love (Thursday 5 July to Thursday 9 August 2018). Two more yet-to-be announced productions will follow in Autumn/Winter.

Tickets for Spring Awakening are on sale now at the Hope Mill Theatre website (https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/spring-awakening-musical/)

Photos by Scott Rylander

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