I was delighted to attend the press night of Dear Evan Hansen, at Storyhouse on Tuesday 18 March.

Directed by Adam Penford, the brand new production follows a heavily anxious and depressed student who manages to achieve his goal of 'fitting in' by weaving his own web of elaborate and increasingly damaging lies.

The chaos that ensues is supported by Ryan Kopel's skilled performance as Evan, who dominates the stage with his magnificent voice and unique interpretation of the character.

In all honesty, what initially felt like a slow and slightly awkward start, swiftly grew into an unpredictable and punchy show, filled with a strong and energetic cast.

One notable performance besides Kopel's, was Lauren Conroy who plays Zoe, Evan's love interest.

Conroy's remarkable grasp of emotional expression, ranging from intrigue, despair and horror, and the ability to project such feelings so loudly from the stage was a joy to witness and experience.

One of the other shining figures of the show was without a doubt ​​Tom Dickerson's performance as Jared - Evan's only friend, or, as he so vehemently distinguishes, his 'family-friend'.

Dickerson provides a thoroughly humorous element to the rather serious theme which runs through the production, which deals with elements of suicide and depression, providing a lightness and playfulness which I found other characters delivered with less ease.

He spends most of the musical poking fun at Evan's self-made mess, acting as the unconventional voice of reason interrogating the main character's flawed persona.

The infamous musical has grown in notoriety over recent years, with a score composed by Oscar-winning Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, packed with some of the biggest musical theatre songs of the last decade.

Ensemble performances throughout the play were exquisite, such as the infamous 'You Will be Found', with satisfying dance routines and fresh, modern costume design.

Outfit choices, specifically for the younger cast, stood out to me as relevant and well-researched.

Headed by Roberta McKeown, the wardrobe for the production revealed an extra layer of the thought and emphasis that has gone in to creating and interpreting each character.

Zoe's outfits are edgy and on-trend, reflecting the person who effortlessly lies at the forefront of Evan's mind, as 'the one he pins his whole hope on'.

Vivian Panka, who plays over-achiever, Alana, is clad in peppy and polished looks, reflecting her overall goal-oriented mindset and need for control.

Overall, I think the production offers an interesting and timely commentary on conversations around mental health in young people, along with the good and the bad that social media can offer us in an ever increasingly digital age.

Limited tickets are left for the final few shows at Storyhouse.