Next to Normal is a musical that has only very recently become available to amateurs here in the UK and Sedos snapped up the rights to this award winning show after an incredibly successful run at the Donmar Warehouse in 2023 and a West End transfer in 2024. Since its limited run in the West End I was desperate to see this show live again so when Sedos announced that they were producing it, hyped would be an understatement about how I felt.

The show itself is an emotional powerhouse which tells of a family’s struggle to deal with the mother, Diana’s, bipolar and hits hard with themes of grief, drug use, suicide and the impact of mental health on those around you. Diana’s husband, Dan who battles with supporting his wife whilst pining for the life that they used to have and their daughter Natalie who is battling for her life to be ‘next to normal.’ The book is brilliantly written, winning a Pulitzer but it holds no punches and it requires a society that isn’t afraid of taking on these huge topics to do it justice.

Director Jonny Harding-Cooper and his cast really seemed to understand the piece, it felt raw and as if we were getting an unfiltered glimpse into this families life with the emotions laid bare on the stage in front of us. The characters were well developed and veered away from any gloss or niceties, the relationships felt real and I believed in them all so much that by the end I wasn’t just wiping away an odd tear but ugly crying. They had also paced the show perfectly, so much so that whilst the many emotional moments throughout the show hit well, it was the final sequence that meant all of the pent up emotion of the previous two hours could be released.

The cast were excellent and worked brilliantly together as the family unit. Jamie Cushion played Gab, Dan and Diana’s son. Cushion is currently in his third year of training and after seeing his performance tonight his future looks bright. His voice was mesmerising and his portrayal of Gabe riveting in fact it was one that would easily be at home on a West End stage and I look forward to future professional cast announcements which will undoubtedly have his name in it.

Playing Natalie was Eleanor Morozow whose character also goes on a huge journey throughout the show, growing up and falling in love as her family life collapses around her.  Her conflict between falling for Henry whilst her home life self destructs was clear. Her duet with Jamie Cushion of Super Boy and Invisible Girl really showed off her vocal ability and was one of the highlights of the show. As Dan, Dan Saunders broke my heart with a stoic and steadfast commitment to his wife, it was his final scene that caused the ugly crying and ‘I am The One’ and the reprise really got to the heart of his character.

Of course there is also the central character of Diana Goodman played by Jamie Lee Pike whose portrayal of the part and all of her relationships on stage felt utterly authentic. I also admired the fact that she really put her own stamp on the part and it didn’t feel like an imitation of Caissie Levy (the West End Diana). It was Pike’s tender moments that moved me the most such as ‘I Miss The Mountains,’ as these sat in a really lovely place in her voice although there were times in the bigger songs such as ‘You Don’t Know’ a rockier and bigger sound would have enhanced this contrast even more.

The 6 piece band under the baton of Adrian Hau sounded brilliant and they weren’t afraid to lean into the rockier vibe of Next to Normal much to my relief. They sounded incredibly crisp and as if they had been playing the score together a lot longer than a matter of days.

The staging of the show by Harding-Cooper focused on the family home, with their front room serving a dual purpose of Dr Madden’s office, meaning that the show could flow well and the emotional build up was never stopped in its tracks for a scene change. The set design by Harding-Cooper and Laidlaw also allowed some beautiful theatrical moments especially at the conclusion of ‘There’s A World,’ which sent a literal shiver up my spine and straddled the idea of imagination and reality well. The lighting design by Ruth Luckins had a clever use how the house own source of light, such as overhead lamps and kitchen lighting was played with to enhance the naturalistic feel. There were times that the lighting was slightly too dark and whilst I appreciate that many of these moments were the heavier moments of the play it crossed the fine line between moody lighting to not being able to see the actors faces.

This is a production that understands the responsibility of the material it holds. Sedos have not shied away from the darkness at the heart of Next to Normal, instead leaning into its rawness to create something that feels both intimate and quietly devastating. The strength of the performances and the emotional honesty at the core of the piece make it a deeply affecting evening at the theatre.

Next to Normal is on at the Bridewell Theatre until 28th April. You can find out more and book tickets here.

If you like this review you might also like my review of Dreamgirls, Assassins and The Crucible all by Sedos.