A Smithers-raised director and choreographer is coming back to put on four exclusive performances of an award-winning folk-rock musical based on a 19th century German play.
Spring Awakening is the coming-of-age story of teenagers discovering their sexuality in a sexually repressed society.
Smithers Secondary School graduate Jospeh Goble founded the Go Bull Theatre company with his wife Noelle Antonsen in Victoria with this performance in mind. They had been producing less adult fare on the island for the last few years with their company Epiphany Productions.
“It’s not a focus on doing weird, twisted theatre now, but this show we really wanted to produce,” said Goble.
Spring Awakening is a performance that comes with language and brief nudity warnings. It also took home eight Tony Awards including best musical in 2007 after going on Broadway.
“You kind of have to see it to get it. It’s a really, really powerful piece… It’s incredibly emotional,” explained Goble.
“It talks about these kids growing up and going through a lot of the same things as modern kids do, but in a society where no one can talk about it.”
Goble described the musical as two worlds combined: 19th century Germany and the young inner minds that break out into more modern rock.
“I think audiences that come see it are going to be incredibly surprised and touched,” said Goble.
The artist got his performing start with Creative Roots ballet.
“I actually have a stand-up routine about it. When I was a little kid I was really hyper, and my parents needed something to burn off the energy but they weren’t willing to drive me to hockey and my sister to ballet class.
“So they put us both in ballet, and I loved with it and stuck with it and have been doing dance ever since. My sister actually hated dance and she ended up going into wresting; she’s a nationally placed wrestler now,” said Goble.
From ballet, Goble moved onto high school drama. His former teacher Heather Lytle, who still runs the drama program at Smithers Secondary, will be playing several small roles. Local Alan Doll will also take part.
Lytle said Goble has kept in touch, travelling to Smithers to help with high school productions, and approached her to be in the musical. She is excited to take part.
“There’s a place for adult theatre, and it is a beautiful story,” said Lytle, who remembers Goble as an excellent student.
“It is quite exciting for me having been his first teacher in theatre to see (his work), and to be able to work with him as an adult on something that’s not connected to the high school.”
The performance runs Feb. 6, 7, 12, and 13, 7:30 p.m. at the Della Herman Theatre.
“I’m just really excited to bring some really cool art up to Smithers,” said Goble, who hopes to eventually bring performance tours to northern B.C.
Tickets are on sale at Mountain Eagle Books and Interior Stationary.
