Featured image by Loreta Arroyo. Courtesy of The Sandbox Collective.
MANILA, Philippines — With its well-received opening, The Sandbox Collective brought “Spring Awakening”, the Tony Award-winning musical based on the novel of the same name by Frank Wedekind to audiences with the interwoven tales of teenagers from late 19th century Germany discovering themselves in a repressive society.
In many ways, the themes tackled are reflections of what the Filipino youth are still suffering from today. Narratives about sex education, reproductive health, and LGBTQIA+ issues remain contentious, which is why this present staging, under the direction of Nikolai Andrei Pamintuan, remains relevant despite its dated milieu.
Recognizing this, The Sandbox Collective, took on the responsibility to extend guidance to its audiences by conducting post-show talkbacks in collaboration with its advocacy partners: Mental Health PH, Unprude, and LoveYourselfPH.
The Sandbox Collective takes on the initiative to hold post-show talkbacks on mental health, sex education, and coming of age in the 21st century. Image courtesy of The Sandbox Collective.
Sex health and therapy app Unprude will also join the conversation, advocating for open conversations about sex and sex education in the Philippines.
Unprude CEO and the first Filipino Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Sexology Dr. Rica Cruz said that the theater has always been an open and powerful avenue to start tough conversations.
“We partnered with ‘Spring Awakening’ because it tells the truth about what happens when young people grow up without honest sex education,” Dr. Cruz said. “Silence does not protect. It leaves young people confused, ashamed, and vulnerable.”
Leading HIV advocacy group LoveYourselfPH will also join the talkback sessions as it emphasizes the need for a safe space for the youth to explore their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Key visuals courtesy of The Sandbox Collective.
The talkback sessions are set after every Sunday matinee show of “Spring Awakening”. The full schedule of the talkbacks is available on The Sandbox Collective on Instagram.
“SPRING AWAKENING” is the inaugural show of The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati. The production runs until March 22, 2026. Tickets are available on Ticket2Me.
“SPRING AWAKENING” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), New York, NY, USA.
For more information, follow The Sandbox Collective on Facebook, Twitter and Tiktok: @TheSandboxCo and its official website at www.thesandboxco.com.
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