Why you need to visit Barcelona to see the immersive 'Next to Normal' starring Alice Ripley

Find out how the creative team behind the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical staged the show in an immersive format.

If you miss the mountains, look no further than Barcelona, where you can experience the glorious multi-peaked Montserrat and the highs and lows of Alice Ripley’s Tony-winning performance in the immersive production of Next to Normal in the capitol of Catalonia.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical is the first Broadway show to get the full immersive treatment as part of the Barcelona Grec Festival. Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, the writing team behind the groundbreaking show, have adapted their masterwork into a 60-minute production built for the immersive format.

Alice Ripley reprises her Tony-winning role as Diana Goodman, a mother struggling to connect with her family and herself amid an emotionally troubling time, and she’s joined by Andy Señor Jr., Jade Lauren, Eloi Gomez, and Lewis Edgar. None other than Adam Pascal appears virtually as Diana's psychiatrist.

Acclaimed British director Simon Pittman creates an immersive experience, devoid of props or sets and completed with 360-degree sound and innovative projections.

Next to Normal is running at Ideal Centre D’Arts Digitals through 14 August. Don’t miss your opportunity to see this boundary-breaking, innovative show’s world premiere.

Find out why you should go, what makes this show so special, and what you should do on your trip to Barcelona below.

Barcelona is only a two-and-a-half-hour flight from London.

You can get to Barcelona more quickly than you can get to Edinburgh on the train. Stay in the UK or take a summer trip to Spain? The answer is easy.

Your pre-theatre drinks can be on the beach.

It’s summertime, and there’s no better place to be than on the beach in the sun. Barcelona is famous for its Barceloneta Beach where you can grab cocktails in the sun before heading to Ideal Centre D’Arts Digitals for the show.

You get to see a Tony-winning performance.

Remember when Sutton Foster revived her Tony-winning performance in Anything Goes in the West End and all of London came out to see it? That’s exactly what’s happening in Barcelona right now, as Alice Ripley is pouring her heart and soul into the emotional roller coaster of Diana Goodman. Stop listening to the cast recording and go experience this incredible show in person.

There’s never been a Broadway show like this.

This production of Next to Normal is like no other – it’s the first immersive production staged in this way. Experience 360-degree sound design, innovative projections, and more at this once-in-a-lifetime show. Director Simon Pittman has created a form-defying entertainment experience.

You get to visit Barcelona.

If you’ve been thinking about visiting Barcelona, this is your sign. The city’s storied cultural history is astounding and the tapas and cocktails are next-level. During your visit, make sure you experience Gaudi’s masterpieces at the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, and enjoy the views from the cable car from the top of Montjuïc right down to the beach. Take a walk down Los Ramblas and enjoy the colourful shops and restaurants. There’s so much to see and do to pack a day, a weekend, or even a whole week.

So what are you waiting for? Book a trip to Barcelona and tickets to Next to Normal.