Earlier this month in Barcelona, a big theatrical experiment ended at the giant and high-tech Ideal Barcelona exhibition space.
Hit, multi award-winning Broadway show Next to Normal got the full disruptive, immersive treatment in a new version that was part of the Barcelona Grec Festival 2022, produced by Layers of Reality and Pablo del Campo.
The show’s writers, Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics) and Tom Kitt (music), agreed to adapt their rock musical into a one hour experience, in a 2,000 square meter space shared by both the actors and the audience.
The British director Simon Pittman helmed the production, and Søren Christensen and Tatiana Halbach at Desilence created the visuals. The show doesn’t have any sets or props, but uses surround sound design and 360-degree projections on the walls and floor to tell the story.
Christensen told the New York Times that, “It’s like ‘Dogville’ meets a music video.”
Alice Ripley, who premiered the show on Broadway and won a Tony Award for her performance, returned to the role of Diana Goodman, joined by Andy Mr. Jr., Jade Lauren, Eloi Gomez and Lewis Edgar in the cast. The role of the psychiatrist was virtual, played by Adam Pascal.
And now, producers of the Barcelona show have whipped up excitement by placing an waitlist page on the Fever events platform, sounding out interest for a London version of this mega immersive show.
Next to Normal London anyone? There are no details so far but we can’t wait!
