National Theatre Connections 2025: Normalised Review
Written by Eleanor B for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Written by Northern Irish writer Amanda Verlaque, Normalised is a moving and thoughtful story that honours the memory of Colm, a queer teenager who died in a car crash a year earlier. Told through the perspective of Jay, Colm’s boyfriend, the play explores grief, identity and the power of remembrance.
The show was performed as part of the National Theatre’s annual Connections Festival, which brings together youth theatre companies from across the UK to perform new plays written specifically for young people. This performance, by Brassneck Youth Theatre from West Belfast, was staged in the Dorfman Theatre - a brilliant opportunity to showcase new talent on a national stage. I also had the pleasure of watching No Regrets, performed by The Glasgow Acting Academy at this festival, which I’ve also reviewed for Theatre and Tonic.
At the heart of the story is a shrine to Colm, placed in the meadows, his and Jay’s favourite spot. That special place is under threat, not just from property developers eager to take over the land, but from an anonymous vandal who keeps destroying the memorial.
We follow Jay as he navigates grief, frustration and a complicated relationship with Jamesy, Colm’s twin brother and a known homophobe. Jamesy refuses to accept the truth about his brother’s relationship with Jay, and tension escalates with his group of friends. The conflict is difficult to watch at times, but well handled, and shines a light on how prejudice can persist, even within families.
Scene changes were smartly managed by the ensemble, dressed in embellished green boiler suits with PRIDE spelt across the five cast members’ backs. These changes were clearly labelled by one of the ensemble, who carried a sign to indicate the next location. Between scenes, they also kept the energy up by playfully interacting with the audience—at one point questioning why we were still seated after a protest scene, much to everyone’s amusement.
The show runs for an hour and tells its story with clarity and emotion. Although the cast are young, their performances are strong and sincere, and you could sense how much the story meant to them.
Another thoughtful touch was the use of full subtitles throughout the show, a great accessibility feature from the team at the Dorfman.
Normalised is a sincere and impactful piece of youth theatre, delivered with heart and purpose by a talented cast. The NT Connections Festival continues to offer a fantastic space for young voices to be heard—and this was a great example of that in action.
National Theatre’s Connections Festival runs until 28 June.
