Benj Pasek Archives - North West End UK

23Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Dear Evan Hansen – Hull New Theatre

Some productions are so special that theatregoers can get the gist of the story from the get go. I certainly did when Dear Evan Hansen came to the Hull New Theatre on Tuesday evening. Ryan Kopel in the lead role as troubled high school kid, Evan, brought the gawky, angst-ridden, awkward, nerdy, coy, friendless teen to life so perfectly, words can’t begin to describe just how talented this young actor is. Everything about Kopel’s performance kept us, in the packed theatre, spellbound, as we followed his accidental journey of lies, lies and more lies. Evan lives with his mum Heidi (Lara Beth-Sas), whose busy work schedule often means her son is left alone for long stretches of time. He’s old enough, so no big deal. Or is it? Undergoing treatment from his doctor for his social anx...

Dear Evan Hansen – Storyhouse Chester

An Emotional Roller-Coaster - It’ll Make Your Spine Tingle! There’s no doubt that composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have a formula for success with The Greatest Showman and Lala Land as part of their catalogue and Dear Evan Hansen is another award-winning musical hit. It premiered on Broadway in 2016, followed by a film and endless theatre tours and it has found a solid following of fans, of which there were many in the audience last night. A standing ovation to rapturous applause. It’s an emotional rollercoaster with moments of grief, love, laughter and sympathy and those ‘sweet spots’ in the melodies make the hairs on your arm stand up and your spine tingle. For those who haven’t stumbled across this wonderful show before, it’s the story of a socially anxious teenager who fee...

Dear Evan Hansen – Palace Theatre

After debuting a decade ago, audiences are elated to see the hit modern-day musical Dear Evan Hansen finally grace the Manchester stage as part of a UK national tour. With an impressive cast, innovative staging and a host of earworm hits – it was clearly worth the wait. The musical follows Evan (Ryan Kopel) struggling to traverse his high-school days, he is an awkward outsider who struggles to form friendships in his often-cruel teenage years. In his efforts to fit in, Evan gets caught up in a web of lies that sees him finally be the one thing he had always desired – important. Over the runtime the show explores a range of topics from mental health, family roles and friendship all against the backdrop of a generation growing up completely immersed in the world of social media. Set de...