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Press tickets for review

Leicester, get ready, because today is going to be a good day. If you’re lucky enough to catch the UK tour of Dear Evan Hansen at Curve Leicester, on until Saturday, October 5th, you’re in for something special. It’s a show that tackles mental health, grief, performative activism, and the highs and lows of social media, whilst delivering a funny and engaging show. It’s such a success due to its brilliant casting and quality soundtrack.

Leading the way is Ryan Kopel as Evan Hansen, delivering a truly standout performance. Kopel captures Evan’s anxious, socially awkward nature with striking authenticity, making the character both relatable and moving. His chemistry with Lauren Conroy, who plays Zoe Murphy, is believable and cute. Conroy’s beautiful voice and graceful stage presence make Zoe compelling, especially in her scenes with Kopel, where their exchanges feel genuine.

While Kopel holds firm attention as Evan, the supporting cast brings equal depth to the production. Tom Dickerson as Jared Kleinman, the all-American, gamer type, adds a layer of humor that feels natural. There were very few scenes where Dickerson didn’t make you laugh out loud. Jared is the unlikely friend, delivering sarcastic one-liners and rude yet witty and often inappropriate remarks throughout the show.

The cast in general are wholly wonderful and vocally powerful. The harmonies throughout are set very high, especially with Alice Fearn and by the time we come to You Will Be Found, it’s enough to cause a tear to fall.

Speaking of Alice Fearn, who plays Evan’s mother, Heidi Hansen, she delivers one of the most emotionally resonant performances of the night. Her rendition of “So Big/So Small” is lovely. Fearn perfectly captures the complex emotions of a single mother trying to connect with her son while balancing the weight of her own struggles. Her vocals and stage presence give the character real emotional depth. Plus, her performance of “Good For You” reverberated around Curve. There was so much power behind those words.

Although the latter part of the second act occasionally loses momentum, and the ending feels a little rushed, these are small in an otherwise extremely strong production. The musical numbers are good and keep the story moving forward. There’s a reason why You Will Be Found is one of my favourite musical numbers.

Dear Evan Hansen offers a touching exploration of isolation, performative activism, mental health, and the pressures of living in a digital world. It does sometimes feel as though there is a slight romanticism of mental health and ideation but I do think it sparks great conversations about the power of well-being. This UK tour has certainly been worth the wait, it’s a show that everyone – especially teens and parents – should experience.

On until October 5th 2024