NGA MIHI NUI

Next to Normal has earned its place in the musical theatre canon, being recognised with multiple awards, including the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and by devoted audiences as a musical of profound significance.

Having been postponed from 2022, Next to Normal feels, if anything, even more timely now and has lost none of its resonance or ability to speak to the human condition. This continued relevance testifies to the nuance and humanity Next to Normal brings to its depiction of neurodiversity, the complexity of Diana’s diagnosis and treatment, and the impact on her and those who love her. What does it mean to strive for normal, or even just next to normal?

Such a musical requires a stellar creative team and cast, and this production has brought together the very best. Director Hayden Tee (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), a veritable musical theatre star, brings both his Broadway chops and fresh artistic vision to this production, leaning into the contemporary relevance and timeless vibrancy of Next to Normal. The emotional arc is carried by the virtuosic score. A rock musical, Next to Normal has an operatic scope and intensity, drawing on the considerable skill of Music Director Richard Marrett, with a superb band. The incomparable cast includes artists from around Aotearoa and Australia. Inventive design by Rachel Marlow and Brad Gledhill (Filament Eleven 11) with projections by Rachel Neser and chic costuming from Sopheak Seng reinforces this production’s contemporary edge and captures the fluidity between the world of external appearances and the characters’ equally vivid internal world, taking inspiration from architecture, fashion and neuroscience. Everything is supported by our brilliant production team.

I am thrilled to welcome you to this inventive, world-class production of a ground-breaking musical. I hope you leave with every sense tingling.

Dr Alison Walls Artistic Director / Pou Kaitohu Toi