Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen heading to Bristol Hippodrome

The Olivier, Tony and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen is heading to the Bristol Hippodrome this summer, as part of a tour. This will be the first production of the show in the UK to perform with an ensemble, and will play in Bristol from Wednesday, July 3 to Saturday, July 6. Tickets are on sale now.

The casting team collaborated with TikTok during the audition process, inviting users who were interested in being cast in the production to upload a video of themselves singing any number from the show. The team then reviewed all submissions and invited those they felt could be a part of the cast to participate in the formal audition process.

More than 2,000 videos were submitted and, of those, 36 TikTok users were invited to in-person auditions and Sonny Monaghan was cast in the ensemble, and as alternate Evan (performing the role twice a week at every matinee performance), as a result of the collaboration.

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Ryan Kopel (Newsies) will play the role of Evan Hansen, alongside Lauren Conroy (Into The Woods) as Zoe Murphy and Alice Fearn (Wicked, Come From Away) as Evan's mum, Heidi. They will be joined by Helen Anker (Mamma Mia!) as Cynthia Murphy, Richard Hurst (The Lion King) as Larry Murphy, Killian Thomas Lefevre (Bat Out Of Hell) as Connor Murphy, Tome Dickerson (Heathers) as Jared Kleinman), and Vivian Panka (9 to 5 the Musical) as Alana Beck.

The synopsis for the show reads: "Meet Evan: an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. The thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth. And now must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have. As events spiral and the truth comes out, Evan faces a reckoning with himself and everyone around him."

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Director Adam Penford said: “I am beyond thrilled with the talented cast we have assembled. An exciting mix of musical theatre legends and rising stars. It's been nine years since the original show premiered, and it's an honour to be the first production to reimagine this powerful story through a contemporary lens.”

The production has also announced its partnership with The Mix, the UK's leading digital charity for under 25-year-olds. The show deals with sensitive topics, very relevant to young people today, and this partnership will ensure that anyone affected by the issues explored in the show knows where to find support.

The Mix will provide training to the cast and creative team on how to appropriately respond to queries from the public, both online and offline, and equip them with the knowledge to direct individuals to the right support channels. The partnership also aims to create engaging and informative content to help elevate and empower young people at a time when they need it most. This will include resources and tips on essential life skills for transitioning into adulthood.