As an audience member, you are drawn into the life of a family that appears ‘ordinary’ on paper, but behind closed doors is struggling to hold on.

With three Tony Awards (2009) and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (2010), Next to Normal belongs to a rare group — only ten musicals have ever received this honour.

Director Anouk Beugels deliberately chooses a direct, unpolished approach. Exactly in line with how NANOEK creates musicals: raw, contemporary and imaginative — you feel the highs and lows in every fibre of your being. This new Dutch translation by Judith Boesen is driven by a powerful pop‑rock score, performed live by a four‑piece band.

• text Brian Yorkey translation Judith Boesen direction Anouk Beugels performance Willemijn Verkaik, Edwin Jonker, Jonathan Demoor, Michael Muyderman, Yara Brand & Jaap Stoop
• trigger warning Next to Normal deals with mental vulnerability and bipolar disorder, and the impact these have on a family. The production contains explicit references to suicide. The loss of a child and the grief that follows are also central themes in the story. In addition, drug and medication use are depicted, as well as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). NANOEK tells this story in an unfiltered and intimate way, which some audience members may find confronting. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts yourself or would like to talk to someone, 113 Suicide Prevention is available 24/7 on 113 or 0800 0113 (free of charge), or via chat at 113.nl. This performance contains strobe lighting.