With summer barely awakening so far this year, it is somewhat ironic that St Albans Musical Theatre Company is putting on Spring Awakening as part of the city’s open-air festival. 

But don’t be fooled by the name of this excellent production because it is actually a coming-of-age musical exploring the vicissitudes of adolescent sexuality. 

And as director Melissa-Rose (Missy) Muirhead said prior to Tuesday’s dress rehearsal, it is a production that is ideally suited to being performed in the open air. 

It does not require the extensive scene changes of SAMTC’s major productions at the Alban Arena and the music is such that there is something particularly eloquent about it being performed outdoors. 

Spring Awakening is based on a controversial play by Frank Wedekind that was adapted as a musical set in 1891 exploring how a group of youngsters discover the ups and downs of adolescence. 

With little or no adult guidance they fumble their way through the changes to their minds and bodies and suffer the results of rebelling against the values of the older generation. 

Spring Awakening does not shrink from dealing with issues such as sex, abortion and child abuse but with a light touch that, I would suggest, precludes it from being offensive to the audience. 

And throughout there is the heart-wrenching musical score that carries the production and links the various stories. 

Musical director Cam Wilson taps into a score that he describes as complex but rewarding using the experience he has gained from other musicals. And of course, as in all SAMTC productions he has a live band at his disposal. What a bonus that is. 

Taking the lead roles of Melchior and Wendle are Guy Conroy-Smith and Laura Horton. Guy, who is also known to Company of Ten audiences, is fast becoming the go-to guy for key roles and as Melchior he proves once again how talented he is. 

Laura making her SAMTC debut as Wendle, Melchior’s love interest, is a charismatic performer who we should, and no doubt will, see again. 

The duo are joined by a cast of young men and women, all of whom are sure-footed in their roles and work together supportively both as a team and individually. 

Special mention should go to Samuel Jackson-Hale as Moritz whose story is the most punishing. He brings a superb voice and gripping acting ability to the role. 

Andy Nicol and Lisa Fitzgerald take the roles of the only two adults in the production and attribute just the right amount of gravitas to their various characters. 

Spring Awakening might not shake up this summer’s weather but it is sure to garner more SAMTC fans because of the aptitude of the young cast and creative team. 

It runs until Sunday at the open air theatre at Verulamium and tickets can be obtained at ovo.org.uk.