Next To Normal

Well done everyone! I was blown away last night. You handled the subject matter with sensitivity, empathy and pathos. I was truly touched. Hoping to come again! xxxx

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• 10 votes

Just wanted to make a brief comment in regards to the review of this show... And before the "don't review the reviewer" comments come flying my way - please be clear, I think it was a very succinct, well written review.

I devote the majority of my time and energy to promoting mental health and well being, working in the community mental health sector with people who are experiencing a wide range of symptoms to varying degrees, from the cripplingly debilitating to the mildly problematic. One of the things I love about Next to Normal is that it attempts to demystify and normalise mental illness, to push back against the pervasive stigma that people suffering from mental illness face on a day to day basis.

For this reason, I want to draw attention to the use of the term "bipolar people" in the review. This is certainly not an attack on the reviewer, as this type of language use when discussing mental illness is a common societal norm.

I raise it as a prompt, for us all to consider the deeply ingrained stigma and thought patterns surrounding mental illness, and to consider the impact this may have and how it might feel for those experiencing mental illness.

People with mental illness are not their illness, it is not the key defining factor of their identity and personhood. They are, first and foremost, a person. A person who happens to be suffering from an illness. We would not describe people experiencing physical illnesses as "diabetes people" or "cancer people", but as "people with diabetes" or "people with cancer".

Anyway... apologies for getting a bit deep and soapboxy... just some food for thought.
Thanks for a great review, am going to see the show this week and cannot wait.

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• 16 votes