An unflinching look at a suburban family struggling with the effects of mental illness, Black Swan State Theatre Company presents Next to Normal at the Heath Ledger Theatre until 22 November 2015.
Meet Diana Goodman, loving wife and mother who wants nothing more than for her husband Dan and their two children to get along like one big happy family. But in a seemingly perfect suburban neighbourhood, their struggles, like most families, are anything but normal. They test and mock each other at every turn – but how are they meant to cope when one of them suffers from hallucinations?
With book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, Next to Normal explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness. Winner of three 2009 Tony Awards including Best Musical Score and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, the musical was also chosen as – “one of the year‘s ten best shows” by critics around the country, including The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and The New York Times.
“I fell in love with this amazing score, incredible lyrics and the fastest moving series of scenes in the music theatre business when I first saw the show in 2009,” says Director Adam Mitchell. “The reason I love this work is simply that it gives me ‘all the feels’.”
“As theatre makers we can have a more direct impact on an audience in song and there is no better medium to investigate ‘the manic magic days and the dark depressing nights’ of Diana Goodman, the character at the centre of this work.”
Filled with music, fun and pathos, Next to Normal revolutionised the genre and is the most critically acclaimed musical since Rent. With a live 6-piece band and featuring songs like My Psychopharmacologist and I, Didn’t I See This Movie?, and Superboy and The Invisible Girl, this world-class production is the prescription you need for the ultimate in contemporary music entertainment.
Director: Adam Mitchell Featuring: Shannen Alyce, Rachael Beck, James Bell, Michael Cormick, Brendan Hanson, Joel Horwood Musical Director: David Young Lighting Design: Trent Suidgeest Set & Costume Design: Bruce McKinven Sound Design: Ben Collins Choreography: Claudia Alessi Voice Coach: Julia Moody
Next to Normal
Heath Ledger Theatre – State Theatre Centre of WA, William Street, Perth
Season continues to 22 November 2015
Bookings: 1300 795 012 or online at: www.ticketek.com.au
For more information, visit: www.bsstc.com.au for details.
Image: Next to Normal – photo courtesy of BSSTC