Black Swan to Present Rachael Beck in NEXT TO NORMAL Next Month

Black Swan State Theatre Company is proud to present Next To Normal a rock musical that follows the life of a suburban mother who is dealing with a worsening bipolar disorder, at the Heath Ledger Theatre from 7 to 22 November 2015.

Next to Normal is a Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama and three time Tony Award winning rock musical that has enthralled audiences on Broadway and this season is a first for Perth audiences. Starring one of Australia's best loved musical theatre stars, Rachael Beck (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sound of Music) she is joined by Brendan Hanson (I Will Survive, Oklahoma) and Michael Cormick (Blood Brothers, The Phantom of the Opera) and three WAAPA graduates, Shannen Alyce, James Bell and Joel Horwood.

It's a modern and powerful drama that examines how the mother's condition and its treatment - including psychoactive drugs and electroconvulsive therapy - affects her family as they try to take care of themselves and each other.

Director Adam Mitchell believes that the "New York Times got it right calling Next to Normal an original, brave, breathtaking musical. It's much more than a feel good musical, it's more a feel everything musical, which is close to the truth. It's essentially a family drama told with beautiful music and it deals with the fallout of a mum who is losing her battle with mental illness. It's gritty, incredibly touching, funny and its full of hope."

Filled with music, fun and pathos, this play revolutionised the genre and is the most critically acclaimed musical since Rent. This will be final show for 2015 season.

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.