There are few cinematic puzzles more challenging than trying to complete a viewing of Dear Evan Hanson. Trust me, I tried, twice. However… abandon your car, bus, hackney cab or pushbike in Morningside and dodge the hailstones – it is, after all June, in Edinburgh – to the stunning Church Hill theatre for this Room 29 Theatre Co production. There are five more performances left from tomorrow (today by the time you’re reading this) June 10th, until June 13th including a Saturday matinee. This was excellent from start to finish, genuinely moving, touching and inspiring, the sight of Eilidh Todd (playing Evan’s mum Heidi) pretty much in tears at the end before a standing ovation said it all.
The show took place upon an impressive, well-lit set before a backdrop representing a typically chaotic, cluttered computer screen, a shifting collage of modern social media. It very effectively illustrated the viral spiral in the second act as ‘The Connor Project’ gathered momentum. Evan (Sebastian Schneeberger) is an awkward, shy, anxious teen, not short of dreams and ambitions, but confronted with reality these wither quickly. Attempting to conquer his demons he’s hoping to make some friends by asking anyone who cares to sign the cast of his broken arm, a result of a fall from a 40ft Oak tree (he says). No-one does (care) except for a truculent Connor Murphy (Harrison Owens), clearly a lad in possession of a collection of well-watered gremlins himself. Evan’s therapist’s advice to write himself a letter every day to dispel some of his anxiety then back-fires in spectacular fashion and the story proper takes flight.
Designed and directed by Neil Lavin, the acting was uniformly excellent, the musical backing tastefully provided by a band (more a small orchestra) marshalled expertly by Lou Everett. The tone, pace and rhythm was superb, the vocal arrangements outstanding, anyone left un-moved by this cast’s version of Requiem (fronted by Emma Clarkson’s Zoe) would have to be lying.
The programme notes (it’s £4, buy one and support these endeavours) raise a smile as each cast member is (allegedly, repetitively) ‘delighted’ to be involved. But who wouldn’t be? In a story about anxiety, deceit and lies, probably the biggest one perpetrated was that this was an amateur production.
Reviewer: Roger Jacobs
Reviewed: 9th June 2026
North West End UK Rating:
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