Dear Evan Hansen - Norwich Theatre (13.05.2025)

Guest review by Hannah Smith

As I entered the Norwich theatre for the 2025 touring production of Dear Evan Hansen, I was struck by a couple of things. Firstly, how many young people were in the audience and secondly just how emotional lots of those people already were, even before the curtain went up. It’s very clear this is a show that means a hell of a lot to people. 

I’d never seen it in the flesh and although I knew the plot and a couple of the songs (doesn’t every earnest young theatre kid sing Waving Through the Window at an audition?)  I wasn’t really prepared for the emotions that it would release in me whilst watching it. 

Set during the months after a fellow student’s death by suicide, Evan finds himself in the middle of an elaborate (albeit well-meaning) web of lies and deceit. 

The show deals with heavy subject matter from the start; suicide, substance abuse, anxiety and depression, yet cleverly manages to capture the very human experience of grief and survival. At the heart of it though, it’s a story about human connection. 

Stylistically, the songs reminded me a lot of Ben Folds Five, an American 90s band known for their piano led storytelling genre of music.  The simplicity of this style of music, with lyrics at the heart, is further proof that you don’t always need big 'jazz hands' numbers to pull an emotional punch when it comes to musical theatre.

The set design was a clever mix of mirrors, glass sliding panels and video screens, used to great effect, especially during the scene where Evan’s funeral speech goes viral. It becomes visually uncomfortable and overwhelming at times, which perfectly illustrates the turmoil reflected in Evan. 

Jared, played by Tom Dickerson, brought a huge amount of comedic light relief to the show,  you could almost hear the sigh of relief whenever he came on stage,  combining teenage humour with an Seth Rogen-esque silliness. Alice Fearn was superb as Heidi, Evan’s Mum, bringing a clever mix of wry humour, tenderness and her usual soaring vocals

Ryan Kopel was absolutely sensational as Evan, bringing a tender vulnerability to a character that it would be easy to dislike. The awkward physicality that he brought to the role through stimming-like hand gestures, was particularly poignant to anyone familiar with neurodivergence. However, nothing was overplayed or felt disingenuous even during Words Fail where Kopel reached the peak of his performance, digging so deep you could see the sweat on his brow. His energy never wavered once, nor did his crystal clear vocals. 

Dear Evan Hansen isn’t just a brilliant night of entertainment - it will hopefully continue to spark conversations and open up dialogue around mental health, visibility and fitting in to a world that doesn’t always understand you. Judging by the standing ovation and tears shed by the majority of the audience, it’s a conversation that’s more important than ever. 

Dear Evan Hansen continues at Norwich Theatre Royal until 17th May.