Icarus Theatre Collective

A powerful production of this haunting classic play about the terrors of becoming an adult as it follows a highly religious community with straight and gay teens exploring youth’s furtive sexual awakenings. These young people push imposing boundaries as puberty overtakes them and their lives are changed forever.

Fifteen year-old Melchior is chased out of town for acts of hedonistic, lewd and despicable moral character. But Melchior is the brightest boy in school and knows sex is just a natural act that ends in the beauty of childbirth.

Wendla, the 14-year-old girl-next-door, dies during a tragic abortion thrust upon her by narrow-minded parents. Crushed by Wendla's death and persecuted by the authorities (and even his own parents) Melchior battles through purgatory where he confronts the ghosts of his past.

This is a seminal play that attacks the sexually oppressive culture of fin de siècle Germany and offers a vivid criticism of the erotic fantasies it breeds. A play well ahead of its time, and with its careful negotiation of teenage pregnancy, homosexuality and religion, it remains bold, challenging and thoughtful today.

This production contains nudity. For over 14s accompanied by an adult, or unaccompanied over 16s.