Latest news with #EvanHansen
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Heart-wrenching' drama music fans 'must see' now streaming for free
Fans have been warned to "grab your tissues" A "heart-wrenching" drama that is perfect for music fans is now available to stream, as film fans warn "grab your tissues". Dear Evan Hansen is a musical about a student - the titular Evan Hansen - who struggles with social anxiety and depression. Evan, played by Ben Platt, finds himself on an emotional journey after being caught up in a web of lies following the suicide of his classmate. Based on the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical of the same name, the film adaptation was released in 2021 and became somewhat controversial with fans, with some saying it worked better on stage, and others complaining about changes to songs.. However, with its portrayal of mental health struggles, fans have said the film is "super emotional". And it is now available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer. A synopsis reads: "High school misfit Evan lies to comfort a grieving mother, telling her of a friendship with her late son that never existed. The falsehoods soon escalate, bringing Evan benefits - but emotional highs only give him further to fall." Fans may recognise Ben Platt (Pitch Perfect) who stars as Evan Hansen, as well as Kaitlyn Dever (The Last of Us) who stars as Zoe Murphy. Colton Ryan (The Girl from Plainville) also stars as Connor Murphy. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, opinions appear to be divided as one person wrote: "Grab your tissues (and your Connor-signed cast) - cause Dear Evan Hansen is one heck of an emotional ride." Another said: "Super emotional movie and music is incredible. I think the film adds something special that's hard to convey in Broadway. The cast is perfect and really sell the story." A third added: "The music is brilliant, the meaning of the movie inspires me, it is a funny and lovable movie." A fourth wrote: "This was honestly one of the best movies I have ever seen. After watching this, I wholeheartedly believe every teenager, parent, and teacher should watch this. Every song conveys an amazing message and the story itself shines light on mental health with teens. It is extremely sad and I did cry my entire way through this movie, but I will never regret watching it." However, another viewer wrote: "The film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen, originally a Broadway show, received mixed reviews and sparked controversy. While the music in the movie was praised for its quality, the overall execution fell short of expectations." Over on Google reviews, the praise continued as one person said: "OMG, this movie is a tearjerker and it pulled at my heartstrings multiple times throughout the whole thing." Another added: "....It's a beautiful story about social anxiety and the consequences of desperate poor choices, with heart wrenchingly beautiful songs which were delivered with raw heart."
Scotsman
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Theatre reviews: Dear Evan Hansen
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Dear Evan Hansen, Playhouse, Edinburgh ★★★★ Oliver in a Twist, Oran Mor, Glasgow ★★★★ The first week of July, a blast of summer heat, and two big, vibrant shows that left me just slightly confused about what exactly was going on. After a long UK tour, the smash-hit musical Dear Evan Hansen arrived at the Playhouse in Edinburgh, playing to a packed audience including many young people, and featuring two young Scottish stars – Ryan Kopel and Lauren Conroy – in the leading roles of painfully shy teenager Evan Hansen, and Zoe Murphy, the girl he worships. The theatrically thrilling first-half finale delivers a stunning visual image of Evan Hansen's new viral fame First staged in the United States in 2015, Dear Evan Hansen is an upmarket high school musical – by Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul – about how, through a misunderstanding, the troubled Evan suddenly finds fame and popularity at school and on social media as the 'best friend' of Connor Murphy, Zoe's brother, who has taken his own life. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Suddenly in demand, and able to bring comfort to Connor's family, Evan cannot resist playing up to his new role, fabricating ever more elaborate narratives about the non-existent friendship; but meantime, his hard-working single mother Heidi (an excellent Alice Fearn) feels she is losing him to the well-to-do Murphies, while his 'family friend' Jared constantly reminds him that his new life is based on lies. This is no mean story, in other words; an operatic tale of fate, yearning, class and deception in a high school context, and a story so lush in emotion and narrative layers that it takes almost three hours to tell, including a theatrically thrilling first-half finale that delivers a stunning visual image of Evan's new viral fame. What is slightly strange about the show is the music itself, which veers between predictable if emotive 21st century anthems that sound as if they might have been written by a well-trained bot, and long rambling arias in which the music trails along in the wake of what sound like over-written prose monologues. Oliver (Elena Redmond) gets in a tangle with Darren Brownlie's Phil Pikes as Fraser Boyle (Nancy. left) and David McKnight look on There's no question, though, that the leading players – including understudy Will Forgrave, stepping up boldly to the role of Connor – deliver fine dramatic and musical performances. And from the audience, the show attracts huge cheers after every song, and a final standing ovation; welcoming a story which clearly speaks with unusual power to the mental health crises of young people now, and is becoming ever more popular, as its internet fame spreads. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At Oran Mor, meanwhile, Andy McGregor's lunchtime summer panto Oliver In A Twist offers up a memorably bold and cheeky satirical send-up of Lionel Bart's musical Oliver!. In this version – uproariously delivered in 60 minutes by a gifted cast of five – Dame Nancy and her son Jammy Dodger (Fraser Boyle and Dani Heron, both in fine form) have recently arrived in London from Glasgow, and are trying, with new Cockney accents, to make their way in their big city; this despite evil landlord Phil Pikes (Darren Brownlie, camping it up outrageously), who is not only charging them rent, but an eye-watering 'transaction fee'. Enter Elena Redmond's posh Oliver, a workhouse escapee who soon joins Dodger's gang; and via a brilliant theme-song and dance entitled Any Old Jam (as in, we can get out of any old jam), the story unfolds in at almost literally breakneck speed, with the Dodger coming a cropper when a wall falls on him in the final scene. There is a truly hard and cynical edge to all of this, as all the characters make it crystal clear how little value they place on human life; and the usually genial spirit of panto often goes missing, in a London whose streets are 'paved with shite'. If the mood is a shade baffling, though, there's always the closing song to cheer us up; and the sheer wit and energy of the writing and performances is impossible to fault, from start to finish.
Edinburgh Reporter
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Liam Rudden's Must See Theatre this month
The calm before the storm that is the Edinburgh Festivals may leave Edinburgh stages bare but a London theatre break promises something special this month. As Edinburgh theatres fall into their usual pre-Fringe slumber this month, there's only one big touring production heading to town in July and that is Dear Evan Hansen at The Playhouse (1-5 July). The Olivier, Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical is packed with some of the biggest musical theatre songs of the last decade. All his life, Evan Hansen has felt invisible. But when a tragic event shocks the community and thrusts him into the centre of a rapidly evolving controversy, he is given the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to be somebody else. With a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Oscar-winning composers for The Greatest Showman, book by Steven Levenson and direction by Adam Penford, the Artistic Director at Nottingham Playhouse, this brand-new production marks the first time the Broadway and West End phenomenon has toured the UK. It stars Scottish musical theatre star Ryan Kopel in the title role, with Sonny Monaghan appearing as Alternative Evan at matinee performances. I caught up with both Ryan and Sonny as they prepared to take Dear Evan Hansen on the road, you can meet them here. Running time 2 hours 40 minutes including interval, tickets here. With a dearth of shows in the Capital, you could do worse than planning a theatre break this month, and if that means a trip to London, get in early as there's still time to catch the final week of London Theatre Direct's Big Summer Theatre. Now in its second year, the event, which runs until Monday 7 July (keep your eyes peeled though as it was extended by a further week last year), allows you to choose from more than 40 musicals and plays, including The Devil Wears Prada, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Back to the Future the Musical, Clueless the Musical, Matilda the Musical, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and save up to 50% off, with tickets from just £15. This year, however, don't just see the on stage magic, experience it with a series of exclusive photo experiences. Now you can step onto the stage after seeing Hadestown, Titanique, Starlight Express, Fiddler on the Roof and The Great Gatsby, to pose for a professional photo moment – have your photo taken on stage after seeing Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre, snap a pic with a Titanique cast member on the Criterion Theatre stage, toast your West End debut with a complimentary drink and photo op at Fiddler on the Roof, feel like a winner when you race onto the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre stage for a Starlight Express photo op – no skates required, but a complimentary drink is a must – or join the roaring 20's party with an old sport from the The Great Gatsby cast, as you pose on stage with them at the London Coliseum. Ready to make your summer unforgettable? Explore all participating shows and secure your seat at the hottest event of the season here. Back in Edinburgh, there's a chance for little ones to get their introduction to theatre at The Playhouse when, for one day only, The Dinosaur That Pooped – A Rock Show (24 July) comes to the Greenside Place venue for two performances at 1.30pm and 4.30pm. When Danny and Dino's favourite rock band are playing their last ever concert, they go on a quest to get the last two tickets. But with a villainous band manager lurking, nothing goes to plan. Will the band perform? Will Danny rock out? Or will Dino's rumbling tummy save the day? Adapted from the No1 best-selling books by Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter, the whole family will have a poopy good time enjoying a brand, new story for the stage. Featuring new songs by the McFly favourites Fletcher and Pointer, a lot of laughs and a whole lot of poo. Running time 1 hour with no interval. Tickets here. Now if ever a venue was made to host a production of the work of Transporting author Irvine Welsh, it surely has to be the old Leith Town Hall Theatre, now better known as Leith Theatre, and that's exactly what the venue is set to do when it brings Porno (18 & 19 July), to 28 Ferry Road. Adapted by Davie Carswell from Welsh's novel of the same name, the stage production of Porno started life as 50 minute one-act play at The Pleasance as part of the 2022 Fringe, however, it's the full-length version that comes to Leith Theatre, one that has already sold out runs at the Liverpool Olympia, Crewe Lyceum, Manchester Waterside as well as a seven week season at the Art's Theatre in London's West End. Porno, the follow up novel to Trainspotting, reveals what has become of Renton, Sickboy, Spud and Begbie some 15 years on from their original exploits. It goes without saying, sure that swearing, drug use and language of a sexual nature are the order of the day, which makes the 13+ advisory seem quite liberal. Running time 2 Hours including interval. Tickets here Next month, of course, we'll be spoiled for choice as the Festival and Fringe comes around once again. The Edinburgh Reporter will once again exclusive carry my Fringe Hot Ticket hit lists, in the meantime you can keep up to date with the shows coming to Edinburgh in August that are catching my eye by visiting And please do keep an eye out for the three shows I'm directing. If you like a supernatural tale or two, Fallen Angel, my new one-man play, and The Omega Factor: By The Pricking Of My Thumbs, by Natasha Gerson and myself, might be right up your street. If it's comedy you're looking for, check out Hingin' Oan Fir Googsie, by John McColl, starring River City's Jimmy Chisholm, will definitely be worth a look. Tickets here. Until August, happy theatre going, Liam Like this: Like Related
-and-Ryan-Kopel-(Evan-Hansen)--Photo-Marc-Brenne.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26crop%3D3%3A2%2Csmart%26trim%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dear Evan Hansen: Scottish stars of new Edinburgh Playhouse musical tell how parents thank them at stage door
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Scottish stars of musical Dear Evan Hansen have told how parents have spoken to them at the stage door to thank them for highlighting teens' mental health struggles. Ryan Kopel, who plays Evan Hansen, and Lauren Conroy, who portrays Zoe Murphy, in the musical, due to open at the Edinburgh Playhouse next week as the final stop on a UK tour, said different generations of families had spoken to them about how the show had resonated with them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The show, which Mr Kopel described as a 'stand-alone play with songs', rather than a traditional musical format, tackles issues of anxiety and teen suicide. 'It's one of those shows that when we were growing up, expanded beyond the world of theatre and penetrated culture more,' said Mr Kopel, from Kirriemuir in Angus. 'We've had such an amazing experience on this show that doesn't happen with every show. But people will come to the stage door and tell us what the show means to them and what story they connected with, which has been incredible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lauren Conroy as Zoe Murphy and Ryan Kopel as Evan Hansen in musical Dear Evan Hansen. | Dear Evan Hansen 'One of the best messages I ever got was a mum who had come with her daughter and her own mum - three generations of women. She told me that after the show her daughter had said 'that's exactly how I feel'. She herself said she completely related to the struggles of the parents in the show and her mum, the grandma, said it framed mental health in a way they had never spoken about before and she never understood it. 'I really do think it taps into something different for every generation.' The cast of Dear Evan Hansen, which will open at the Edinburgh Playhouse next week. | Dear Evan Hansen Ms Conroy, who is from Glenrothes, said: 'There's so much in it that can resonate with teenagers, but also with everyone - parents too. There's such a scope of real emotions.'
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Dear Evan Hansen: Scottish stars of new Edinburgh Playhouse musical tell how parents thank them at stage door
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Scottish stars of musical Dear Evan Hansen have told how parents have spoken to them at the stage door to thank them for highlighting teens' mental health struggles. Ryan Kopel, who plays Evan Hansen, and Lauren Conroy, who portrays Zoe Murphy, in the musical, due to open at the Edinburgh Playhouse next week as the final stop on a UK tour, said different generations of families had spoken to them about how the show had resonated with them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The show, which Mr Kopel described as a 'stand-alone play with songs', rather than a traditional musical format, tackles issues of anxiety and teen suicide. 'It's one of those shows that when we were growing up, expanded beyond the world of theatre and penetrated culture more,' said Mr Kopel, from Kirriemuir in Angus. 'We've had such an amazing experience on this show that doesn't happen with every show. But people will come to the stage door and tell us what the show means to them and what story they connected with, which has been incredible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lauren Conroy as Zoe Murphy and Ryan Kopel as Evan Hansen in musical Dear Evan Hansen. | Dear Evan Hansen 'One of the best messages I ever got was a mum who had come with her daughter and her own mum - three generations of women. She told me that after the show her daughter had said 'that's exactly how I feel'. She herself said she completely related to the struggles of the parents in the show and her mum, the grandma, said it framed mental health in a way they had never spoken about before and she never understood it. 'I really do think it taps into something different for every generation.' The cast of Dear Evan Hansen, which will open at the Edinburgh Playhouse next week. | Dear Evan Hansen Ms Conroy, who is from Glenrothes, said: 'There's so much in it that can resonate with teenagers, but also with everyone - parents too. There's such a scope of real emotions.'
