ReviewWith its global acclaim, I was so excited to watch Dear Evan Hansen in the city I call home. I have seen this several times in London, but watching the production at the Storyhouse left me completely blown away by the sheer talent on our local stage.

This powerful, emotionally charged musical is among my all-time favourites, but this is the first time the production has had an ensemble. The casting team collaborated with TikTok during the audition process, inviting TikTok users who were interested in being cast in the production to upload a video of themselves.

The story follows 17-year-old Evan Hansen, a socially anxious and isolated teenager struggling to navigate high school. Encouraged by his therapist to write letters to himself as a form of self-affirmation, Evan’s life takes an unexpected turn when one of these letters falls into the wrong hands. What unfolds is a deeply moving and thought-provoking exploration of mental health, loneliness, and identity.

Tackling themes of suicide, exclusion, and anxiety, Dear Evan Hansen is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. The script, adapted by Steven Levenson, balances its weighty subject matter with sensitivity, humour, and moments of warmth, making for an unforgettable theatrical experience. The switches between poignancy and humour were slick and very well executed Of course, such an emotionally demanding show requires a cast capable of delivering it with authenticity and nuance—and this cast did just that. Every performer shone, bringing their characters to life with remarkable depth and sincerity.

The responses at the curtain call were testament to their incredible performances.One of the musical’s greatest strengths is its score, which is undoubtedly among the best in modern musical theatre. The performance of ‘Sincerely Me’ was utter perfection! Without extravagant sets or special effects, Dear Evan Hansen relies heavily on the raw emotion of its performers—and they more than delivered. The minimalist staging and clever choreography complemented the production perfectly, allowing the storytelling and talent to take centre stage.While every cast member deserves recognition, the standout performance for me was Lauren Conroy as Zoe Murphy. Her portrayal was nothing short of extraordinary. I found myself completely invested in her character. Her interpretation of Zoe was exactly as it needed to be, and showed a real skill and deep understanding of the vulnerability of the role, whilst leaving us feeling sorry for her, and sorry for the position she had found herself in ‘Reqium’ was performed with a beautiful tenderness but with a genuine heartfelt anger. Exquisite.

With Dear Evan Hansen running at Chester Storyhouse until Saturday, I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you have the chance to see this phenomenal production on its UK Tour, don’t miss it.And if you can’t make it, remember that “Even if you’ve always been that Barely-in-the-background kind of guy. You still matter.”

Tickets: https://www.storyhouse.com/whats-on/dear-evan-hansen/

Thanks to our reviewer Fiona