A Student Edition of Wedekind's classic 1891 expressionist play about
adolescent sexuality.
Wedekind's notorious play Spring Awakening influenced a whole trend of
modern drama and remains relevant to today's society, exploring the
oppression and rebellion of adolescents among draconian parents and
morals. This seminal work looks at the conflict between repressive
adulthood and teenage sexual longings in a provincial German town.
Highly controversial and with themes of sexuality, social attitudes and
adolescence, the play is a popular and provocative text for study,
especially at undergraduate level.
This translation by Edward Bond first brought the play to English
audiences when it premiered at the National Theatre in 1974. Receiving
high praise ('scrupulously faithful both to Wedekind's irony and his
poetry.' The Times), this version is now considered to be the
definitive English translation.
This Student Edition features expert and helpful annotation, including a
scene-by-scene summary, a detailed commentary on the dramatic, social
and political context, and on the themes, characters, language and
structure of the play, as well as a list of suggested reading and
questions for further study and a review of performance history.