Next to Normal - Donmar / Wyndham’s

Is there any other merch available? I’d love to get a poster signed for the bedroom wall if possible…

Edit: just called the box office, they’re indeed selling posters. Any idea how stage dooring works at the Donmar?

They have posters for £5. Jamie and Trevor use a separate exit. After the first night Eleanor came out but a few days later, she didn’t. So it’s a roll of the dice who will come out after the show.

I wish they would fix their web site so that it was more clear when a particular date is sold out. The way it is now is pretty tedious and frustrating.

The Donmar booking site is terrible. Compare it to the Almeida, where you can see at a quick glance the dates on which tickets are available. As you say, with the Donmar you have to scroll through all the dates. What a faff!

Yes, according to the website, that's because seats are available for access patrons when they log in, even though it appears sold out.

My heart is warmed that this show I’ve been banging on about since I first saw it 13-14 years ago is finally on our shores. I am genuinely delighted that people are getting to see this masterpiece - and I don’t use that term lightly - for the first time.

Just 11 more days until I finally get to see this new production. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about seeing something - ever.

Were you looking for specific dates, or are you quite flexible?

My friend got one by twice-daily going through and manually clicking every single show (I know, it’s a real pain) until one solitary return came up and they bagged it.

There are also “Donmar Daily Tickets” you can read about here: be aware, these sell out in minutes. www.donmarwarehouse.com/visit/tickets/

Finally, there is a return queue for very last minute tickets (I do not recommend this) and a small number of standing tickets are also available once the show is fully sold, although all of these are currently sold out. Information again available on the above link.

(Ps. Check this very website’s “Noticeboard” where members post their tickets - there are currently several available!)

You’re welcome - during box office hours, returns are added in real time by the staff. Therefore to maximise your chances, check 30 minutes after they open for returns they’ve had overnight, and around closing time for anything that came in that day. Good luck!

Do they still offer standing tickets in person at 10am on the day or is it all sold in advance nowadays

I have been trying to collate my thoughts into some kind of coherence after seeing this on Friday and then managing to get a return for last night. The last time I can remember leaving a show feeling like this was after People, Places, Things. I went in knowing only the briefest of outlines which covered what you learn in about the first 15 minutes and I felt like I was having the air knocked out of me at every turn. It’s not often that I try to talk to the character in my head: “no, please don’t do that”. The show is so real and unflinchingly depicts the hopelessness of being dragged into an illness and the way that it moves into concentric circles to suck in those around the identified person. The seduction of the illness was so clear. A lot of the music wasn’t really for me and this would usually have detracted from my enjoyment but it so perfectly depicted the story that it didn’t and that has never happened for me before.

In terms of the performances, give Caissie Levy her Olivier now. Diana broke my heart and Caissie’s voice is so pure. There was a dodgy accent from one of the Jacks but other than that the acting performances were all excellent. Jamie Parker’s depiction of his struggle was very real and I felt it but it’s a tough sing and in the two performances I saw he struggled with about a third of the score. It’s *such* a shame because everything else about him was perfect. I have never seen him in anything before so don’t have any skin in the game in that respect and he obviously has a great voice but he is miscast here and I don’t agree with the idea that the vocal struggle is a sign of an inner character struggle. There are struggles all round here and no one else is straining like him.

There was a change in the balloons between Friday and Monday. On Friday they were the foil ones that would usually be filled with helium and last night they were normal balloons which moved around less on stage but one man in the front row did have to rescue one from his lap which distracted from a poignant moment. I don’t think they’re necessary. There are also still a few issues with the balance of sound between the band and actors and I couldn’t hear lines/sections on a couple of occasions.

Overall I feel very lucky to have been able to see this and the large number of tears I shed during and after were well spent. 4.5 stars.

I've been checking for returns for this and just managed to get a ticket, so pleased!

Does anyone happen to know the running time for it please? I've booked the matinee and have to get up to the Almeida Theatre for the evening show so wondering how long I'll have.