

Next to Normal
“Something next to normal might be okay.”
Synopsis
A mother struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects that managing her illness has on her family. The PBS Great Performances recording of the West End transfer to Wyndham's Theatre (from The Donmar Warehouse) in 2024.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Behind the Curtain with the Cast & Director of "Next to Normal" | Great Performances on PBS
Type: Behind the Scenes • Published 2025-05-13
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
PBS Premiere
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Michael Longhurst, Austin Shaw
- Screenplay & Story
- Brian Yorkey, Tom Kitt
- Original Score
- Tom Kitt
- Original Title
- Next to Normal
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Production Studios
- Anonymous Content, PBS, Liberator Film Productions, The WNET Group
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Michael Longhurst, Austin Shaw
Brian Yorkey, Tom Kitt
Tom Kitt
Egli Keli
David Stone, Aaron Glick, Austin Shaw, Nick Salmon
Department Leadership Roster
Brian Yorkey
Writer
Michael Longhurst
Director
Austin Shaw
Director
Tom Kitt
Writer
David Stone
Producer
Aaron Glick
Producer
Austin Shaw
Producer
Chloe Lamford
Costume Design
Egli Keli
Editor
Tom Kitt
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Next to Normal.
Featured In Curated Collections
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MNR
Added, Vol. 3
401–600.
National Theatre Live
All productions released by National Theatre Live, UK – either done directly by the Royal National Theatre or other UK venues/producers. [**NationalTheatre.org.uk**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) / [**NTLive.com**](https://www.ntlive.com) / [**NTatHome.com**](https://www.ntathome.com) (for its US equivalent, see [**BroadwayHD**](https://www.tmdb.org/company/103196-broadwayhd) and site [**BroadwayHD.com**](https://www.broadwayhd.com).) Some productions were filmed _solely_ for their paid streaming channel "National Theatre at Home", and were branded without the "National Theatre Live" posters which those that also screened in cinemas typically got posters with. (plus: There was a 2009 BBC TV series entry titled "National Theatre Live" with the first five filmed productions that featured additional commentary, at #280519, but this was deleted by a mod!) ______________________________________________________________________ • **2024.05.09.Thu: Plays 1-100** - [**nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25) _"National Theatre Live broadcast its 100th title, Nye, live from the Olivier stage. Now buckle up as we’re going to take you on a journey through all 100 NT Lives (you heard that right). From our first to our most recent, join us to recount all the incredible plays that have made it from the stage to the screen – with some fun facts thrown in for good measure!"_ ______________________________________________________________________ **What is National Theatre Live (NTL) & National Theatre at Home (NTaH)?** ([**Wikipedia**](https://w.wiki/9grq)) National Theatre Live is an initiative from the National Theatre (formerly "Royal National Theatre") in London, who record their own plays (and also may do/did some live broadcasts to cinemas too) and other non-National Theatre productions from selected indie/West-End theatre plays in London and beyond in the UK (eg. Chichester, et al.). Unless it's a live cinema viewing, typically once the live theatre run has ended these are then shown in cinemas. NTL cinema audiences are able to view play recordings at cinema screenings in the UK and globally (eg. Australia, Taiwan, et al.), with cinema releases either concurrently (or after an initial cinema release) also released on their paid streaming service National Theatre at Home. NTaH launched in 2020 offering access to over 100 productions, with new titles added monthly. All titles include captions, over 90% available with Audio Description, and a selection available in British Sign Language (BSL). Reaching theatre audiences globally, streaming to over 184 countries, a majority of audiences having never visited the National Theatre's South Bank home, and is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 2026 research showed 99% of NTaH's audiences are outside London, with over 60% saying filmed theatre options support wider discoverability and increased overall theatre experiences.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Next to Normal
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Next to Normal about?
A mother struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects that managing her illness has on her family. The PBS Great Performances recording of the West End transfer to Wyndham's Theatre (from The Donmar Warehouse) in 2024.
Who directed Next to Normal?
Next to Normal was directed by Michael Longhurst, Austin Shaw.
Who stars in Next to Normal?
The principal cast of Next to Normal includes Caissie Levy, Jamie Parker, Jack Wolfe, Eleanor Worthington-Cox, Trevor Dion Nicholas.
When was Next to Normal released and how long is it?
Next to Normal was released in 2025 with a total runtime of 2h 10m.
Who composed the musical score for Next to Normal?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Next to Normal was composed by Tom Kitt.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Next to Normal?
Next to Normal holds official age classifications: GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.).




















