Music by
Tom Kitt

Book and Lyrics by
Brian Yorkey

Directed by
Tracie Pang

Starring
Sally Ann Triplett
Adrian Pang
Nathan Hartono
Julia Abueva
Linden Furnell
Juan Jackson

A wonderful ride, a wild, exuberant musical. The creative and production teams rose magnificently to the challenge. Hats off to director, Tracie Pang.

To take on a musical that is so complicated, so respectful and aware of the growth and changes in its characters, and so important in its depiction of mental illness requires heart and guts. PANGDEMONIUM! has plenty of both.

NEXT TO NORMAL is intense, gritty and emotionally draining, but it’s also brash, funny and feels alive. How director Tracie Pang managed to pull this off, we’ll never know.

The issue of mental illness is handled with sensitivity and compassion and yet it doesn’t tiptoe around it at all. We strongly urge you to take this particular dose of on-stage medicine! 4/5.

This gritty, heart-wrenching, gut-twisting gem of a musical blows the mind... NEXT TO NORMAL does not pull any punches with its characters, but even if they are left bruised, they also emerge braver - and it left me feeling exactly the same way... a MUST WATCH! 

Undoubtedly, the best musical of 2013! NEXT TO NORMAL's extraordinary achievements will be unsurpassed by any other this year. Stunningly acted and sung, impeccably designed and sharply choreographed.

Director Tracie Pang has mounted a splendid production. This reviewer left the show astonished and moved, wishing he could return to experience it all over again.

Any musical theatre company in the world would be proud to have produced this superbly professional production. An insistently excellent product. PANGDEMONIUM!'s NEXT TO NORMAL is electric with feeling, director Tracie Pang demonstrating acute control.

PANGDEMONIUM! has always shown promise as a company - appropriately for their latest production, they are beginning to be insanely good. 4.5/5.

You guys have simply put together the best musical production I have seen in years - and I have seen numerous global-travelling shows and lots on the West End.

You outdid what people expect in a "local" production. People should be QUEUING up for tickets for this!

Congratulations on the outstanding performance by everyone! Pangdemonium truly performs plays and musicals that pushes the boundaries of Singapore theatre, and every experience is enriching, inspiring and just stunning to watch. NEXT TO NORMAL was no different.

FABULOUS ENTERTAINMENT MEETS FOOD FOR THOUGHT! The most courageous performance I've ever seen in Singapore!

It was amazingly good. I was so moved. I was bawling my eyes out so much by half time that I went to the toilet with bloodshot eyes. Really powerful musical that was superbly executed. Another KICK ASS experience.

Thank you so much for doing Next to Normal!

Saw this last night, if you have not - you MUST!!! An absolutely awesome show and stellar cast! An incredibly moving and powerful musical dealing compassionately with the difficult issue of mental health. A cast of only six who carry the show brilliantly, ably supported by their band, crew and obviously superbly directed.

Still reeling from my afternoon in the theatre yesterday, courtesy of Pangdemonium's #NextToNormalSG. How do you even begin to describe the moment art transcends the tangible? What an important, profound, breathtaking piece.

Excuse me while I pick my heart off the floor. Everybody go watch Next To Normal!

I cannot say this enough, but thank you Pangdemonium, for being so KICK-ASS and unapologetic in shoving this AMAZING show in our faces.

NEXT TO NORMAL will sing its way right into your soul, burn its brand into your heart, in a manner both depressing and curiously, magically uplifting.

Pangdemonium does this brave tale justice with its equally courageous, powerful production – it is, quite frankly, UNMISSABLE.

Intensely BLOWN AWAY by #NextToNormalSG, a Pangdemonium production. Some scenes are even better than the original Broadway version.

CRAZY FANTASTIC!... Powerhouse performances from all the cast... Cutting deep, it leaves you in awe long after the show.

Huge congratulations on NEXT TO NORMAL! The show was awesome - so profoundly moving and deeply authentic. It was MAGIC! So grateful to have been there to witness it! And congratulations to Pangdemonium - for the FIERCENESS and BRAVERY, ARTISTRY and HEART!

Written by
Bryony Lavery

Directed by
Tracie Pang

Starring
Janice Koh
Adrian Pang
Karen Tan

In the hands of Tracie Pang, this quiet play sends up emotional flares that both briefly illuminate and cast long shadows on a difficult, prickly topic... Adrian Pang's absolutely heart-stopping, gut-twisting turn as one of the most monstrous of men... the seasoned trio of actors hold their own, pulling out some startlingly well-pitched encounters.

Directed by Tracie Pang, this sold-out production of Frozen is Pangdemonium at its darkest and grimmest...Gripping and engaging...some truly memorable scenes...painfully poignant moments...the three main actors put in exceptional shifts.

It's hard to sympathise with a monster like Ralph, but that's exactly what happens in Adrian Pang's slow-brewing and complete transformation from nonchalant bloke to menacing inmate to despairing soul. His utterly chilling performance is, hands down, one of the best we've seen on stage…

Directed by Tracie Pang, Frozen boasts once again all the hallmarks of a Pangdemonium production: slick production designs, well-calibrated direction, and uniformly strong performances…complex emotional authenticity.

Tickets to the entire run of Frozen sold out before its opening night - a testament of Pangdemonium's reputation among theatre-lovers.

Frozen had its audience members in its thrall. The fact that the play was sold out for the entire run on its opening day is a testament to what a steamroller theatre company Pangdemonium has become, capable of putting out sing-your-heart-out musicals, supercharged brassy comedies, and quiet plays that threaten to annihilate your soul. 

Thank you for another fabulous theatrical experience. We were so touched and disturbed by tonight's show. You seem to choose plays that speak directly to my heart and my life. And thank you for continuing to make me look, discover, and appreciate life and art. I'm proud to be a friend of Pangdemonium.

By the way, we all wanted to give a standing ovation but how do you stand for a serial killer? Theatre confusion at its finest.

Intense, poignant, thrilling, and stimulating brain food too. As always with a Pangdemonium production, the direction by Tracie Pang was top-notch and the acting was stellar. No other theatre company in Singapore comes close to what these brave folks are doing.

I’ve got my 2015 Season Ticket already - you’d be a fool not to get yours! Keep kicking our asses, Pangdemonium, we love it!

Absolutely in awe! Just when you think their last one was at the peak, they come up with yet another remarkable production. Congratulations!

Tracie Pang skilfully directed her cast through a wonderfully paced play. Tension throughout, moving acting, tough topic. Adrian Pang gave a brilliant performance as a tortured man with a destructive path.

A human buckling under the weight of remorse without redemption. Amazing performances by Karen Tan as the grieving mom and Janice Koh as the burdened psychiatrist.

In Tracie Pang's expert hands, some of the most disturbing details are the most oblique and understated. Janice Koh and Karen Tan dig deep, plumbing the depths of unspeakable pain. But Adrian Pang's Ralph is a stunning performance. This is as dark a show as I have seen at Pangdemonium, but there are glimmers of hope and redemption.

I give it my highest recommendation.

Brilliantly executed by each actor. Truly a wonderful experience watching the story come alive and I felt for each character every step of the way.

Worth every minute and money spent. Looking forward to 2015 productions.

FROZEN is so memorable that it sent shivers down my spine, haunting me with nightmares since. It's heart-wrenching to watch, but I'm so glad I did.

Thank you for being open and courageous to perform this work. See you in 2015!

Unbelievable! I watched Frozen and I was shocked and very touched...you guys really kick my ass! I salute you from the bottom of my heart.

I am looking forward to your next shows already. Sending you lots of LOVE and THANKS!

Just returned from the matinee performance of Frozen, which was fantastic. Brilliant performance and the staging of it was first-class.

A great afternoon of theatre.

Amazing performance of Frozen tonight! Fantastic talent in a taut, gripping play - bravo for bringing this to stage, and hope to see more thought provoking pieces like this.

Written by
Rajiv Joseph

Directed by
Tracie Pang

Starring
Seong Hui Xuan
Alan Wong

2013 will be remembered as the year PANGDEMONIUM emerged as one of the top theatre companies in Singapore. This year, they’ve tackled three difficult productions, each with a social message of sorts.

They’ve done this courageously, and brilliantly, never once downplaying the significance of the plays’ social taboos: grieving parents in Rabbit Hole, bipolar disorder in Next to Normal, and now self-mutilation in Gruesome Playground Injuries.

I’m definitely looking forward to their 2014 season.

Seong Hui Xuan and Alan Wong put in riveting performances which compel you to sit engaged through the entire 90 minutes.

The set design by Philip Engleheart is a masterpiece.

Bloody good... Gruesome Playground Injuries provides a fitting and fine end to PANGDEMONIUM!’s “Survivor”- themed trilogy of 2013.

If this season is anything to go by, we have much to look forward to from this still relatively young company, which has – in this year alone – proven itself to be the equal of any of Singapore’s more established theatrical names.

Gruesome Playground Injuries is a delightful emotional roller coaster.

Raw, quirky and well executed. Gruesome is a painful, moving and bittersweet reminder of the ties that bind us through the shared experience of pain - both physical and emotional.

It’s great that PANGDEMONIUM are consciously forging ahead with productions that confront dark, difficult themes and as we look towards their equally appealing 2014 season (buy your season tickets!), one can only expect great things from this team of trailblazers.

BRAVO Pangdemonium - you've scored a hat-trick! After Rabbit Hole & Next To Normal, you've made the brave choice of Gruesome Playground Injuries, an intimate and delicate play tackling taboo themes and packing a huge emotional punch which sneaks up on you and will stay with you for a long time afterward.

Just caught Pangdemonium's Gruesome Playground Injuries this evening - thank god that I decided to catch the show. This is such an amazing show! Love both the actor's and actress' performances! And I absolutely love the stage design - simple and yet dynamic at the same time. 

What a show! What a performance! Bravo! It's such an intriguing production. The chemistry between the actors was fantastic! What a great job! Love the transitions and love the set. 

Pangdemonium blew my mind yet again with Gruesome Playground Injuries. Funny and poignant with engaging performances, a killer set design (no pun intended), clever staging... and those songs!

Those songs in between scenes were practically the soundtrack of my life! Man, it's like the play was speaking directly at me. Such a personal experience. Kudos to Pangdemonium!

Gruesome, bloody and yet so intimate. I love the humour and how you tackled sensitive subjects with such delicacy. Well done!

We have seen all your productions since 2011, till the Gruesome Playground Injuries tonight. You have given us faith that there are guts and skill in Singaporean theatre.

We are leaving Singapore after five years, and we certainly will miss you. Keep kicking ass, you’re f*cking awesome.

Excellent! Very beautifully executed. Unique and unusual themes that touch our loves but don't realise it.

Had the sweet and sour taste of comedy mixed with tragedy.

Sad, bittersweet and heartbreaking - Alan and HuiXuan are very powerful in difficult roles.

The set is stunning and the musical interludes are a wonderful, brilliant touch. Great job!

Awesome! The acting was fantastic. Brilliant incorporation of set changes and costume changes into the show.

The set is gorgeous, and the music and lighting were like characters.

Amazing, mind-blowing, touching. I was crying so much at the end I nearly walked into a curtain.

Written by
Annie Baker

Directed by
Tracie Pang

Starring
Adrian Pang
Daniel Jenkins
Neo Swee Lin
Nikki Muller
Selma Alkaff

A belly-aching, can’t-breathe-because-I’m-laughing-so-hard guffaw-fest! Great, fun theatre...very funny... All five actors turned in solid performances, this is an ensemble cast with great comic timing. I felt like I was watching a great team onstage, and that could only be possible with a great team offstage supporting them. I continue to appreciate Tracie Pang and her team’s attention to little details, creating truly memorable moments...this play reminds us that theatre is an important lens worth acquainting ourselves with...and anyone can, and probably will, enjoy this show thoroughly.

Pangdemonium's feel-good comedy...funny and entertaining...hilarious and revealing...the acting, directing and production designs range from strong to fantastic. Tracie Pang's fine direction...Neo, Jenkins and Adrian Pang effortless flaunt their comic chops, while high-octane Muller and sensitive newcomer Alkaff are welcome additions to the Pangdemonium family.

A delight to watch...Strong performances all around, from Neo’s endearing earnestness to Muller’s larger-than-life antics to Pang’s hilarious bouts of passive aggression. Kudos also to newcomer Alkaff, who conveys moments of extraordinary insight in her turn as a sarcastic, bored teenager and makes a commendable professional stage debut. Tracie Pang’s layered and sensitive direction drives the production...culminating in a beautiful, bittersweet final scene that cuts close to the bone.

Tracie Pang directs a well-cast, high energy ensemble...truly excellent ensemble work with comic timing and sure-footed rhythm, supported by some magical design work...I am reminded that theatre can be such a balm for the soul...makes you take a good look in the mirror, that you might circle back one day and find yourself transformed.

Get thee to the theatre, you won’t want to be missing out on this one. A brilliant use of staging and space. We find ourselves floored by the clever and seamless flow into the conclusion. The subtle transformation of the characters is a delight to witness as the set, lighting and multimedia design change brilliantly without missing a beat of the characters’ transition...pulls you deep into their lives, produces the squirmy-dawning-of-realisation feeling in the gut.

4/5...Pangdemonium’s Circle Mirror Transformation beautifully demonstrates just how versatile the company is…bags of fun…Stellar performances...Pang has his comedic timing down pat, while Muller encapsulates the confident woman with deep trust issues brilliantly. The old-couple chemistry between Neo and Jenkins is great to watch, and we could hardly tell that it’s Alkaff professional stage debut with her stellar performance.

This is exactly why Pangdemonium is a theatre company in a class of their own: they take us on unpredictable, enthralling journeys not only with every single production, but also in their entire exciting, evolving body of work. After the roller-coaster ride that was their 2014 Season (with the laugh-out-loud, in-your-face Fat Pig; the big, brassy nostalgia trip back to 1974 Singapore of Little Voice; culminating with the gut-wrenching Frozen) they now spring this gem of a surprise on us.

Circle Mirror Transformation is Pangdemonium at their warmest, most tender and most fun - but in the midst of all the laughter, still packing an emotional punch that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Tracie Pang once again displays her versatility and sensitivity as a director, guiding her perfectly-cast ensemble (of seasoned pros and exciting new finds) into mining every nuance of the piece, to create very real and relatable characters, and to tell this story humanely and movingly. A true theatrical delight!

Pangdemonium has raised the bar again! Miss it and you'll regret it!

It makes me so happy that @pangdemonium is a thing! Circle Mirror Transformation - funny, subtle, touching - go see!

Instead of just making you cry as they usually do, Pangdemonium makes you laugh till you cry with Circle Mirror Transformation. Enjoyed it!

Perfect comic timing from the entire cast, brilliantly directed by Tracie Pang. Pangdemonium always produces super high-quality theatre!

An all round great show. Fresh and surprising. Tender and fun. It captures the imagination and the heart. It challenges you. Gently but surely.

Circle Mirror Transformation was brilliant! I laughed and teared... and laughed until I teared. The show itself goes waaaay deeper than the synopsis. After last year's super intense offerings (heck... "intense" is the mildest word i can think of) Circle Mirror Transformation is MUCH gentler.

Yes, there are dramatic, pensive, gut-wrenching moments, but these are perfectly balanced with chuckles and full-volume guffaws. And do i really need to say anything about the acting and directing? OK... just one word: perfect. Pangdemonium did it again.

I loved every single actor's performance in Circle Mirror Transformation. For the duration of the show, I forgot they were actors as the play drew me into the drama class as if I too was a participant..."Week 1 to Week 6". I didn't want to be absent for any of the "weeks" to "attend" this class. Great casting, great pacing, great direction, and the ending was simply beautiful.

Circle Mirror Transformation was amazing. Every single time I watch a Pangdemonium's production, I feel nothing but awe. CMT’s a play that you have to sit through and experience for yourself - words will not do it justice. The acting was so perfectly nuanced. Tracie did a hell of an amazing job with this script.

It’s so honest and sincere, you cannot get any purer than this. Pangdemonium's kick-assingly good. And fabulous.

Once again, Pangdemonium proves its vital role in the Singapore theatre scene. With Circle Mirror Transformation, they continue to push, stretch and challenge actors, as well as surprise and delight audiences, in the most exciting ways.

Tracie Pang yet again demonstrates her consummate skill as a director, moulding her cast individually and collectively to create subtle and detailed portrayals - this is the best ensemble acting seen on stage in years! It is an extraordinary directorial feat that Pang has managed to tease out such a great deal of comedy from such a naturalistic piece, all the while maintaining a perfect balance of drama and nuance, and ultimately producing a piece of theatre that is enchanting, entertaining and very moving.