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Kate MiddletonandPrince Williamare having a date night at the theater!
Inside the foyer, the royal couple chatted about the mental health theme with the play’s author Steven Levenson and composers Justin Paul and Benj Pasek.
“Ten years ago, do you think this play would have been here?” William asked.
“I don’t think it would have even existed,” Pasek replied.
In a note for the show’s program, William said, “Catherine and I are delighted to join you this evening for a special charity performance of Dear Evan Hansen at the Noel Coward Theatre.”
“As we look to the future, we will continue to deliver ambitious change and genuine, sustainable solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face — including the environment and ensuring young people get the best possible start in life,” he concluded the message.
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After the show, the royal couple will meet with members of the cast and William will give a few remarks.
The award-winning musical tells the story of a boy named Evan who struggles social anxiety and strongly wishes to connect with his peers — so much so that he fabricates a friendship with a deceased student in order to be closer to the boy’s family.
The topic of mental health is a key priority for William and Kate’s foundation, which works to help encourage people to openly discuss their mental health as well as fight the stigma that comes along with it.
Earlier this month, William joined in on a foosball event in London to kick off the latest stage in his mental health campaign around the sport of soccer.
William, who is President of the Football Association and is a keen fan himself, said in a statement: “Imagine if we talked about mental health as much as we talk about football.”
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“Many of us won’t go a day without talking about it. And whatever team we support, every single fan, player and manager has one thing in common — we all have mental health, in the same way that we all have physical health.”
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The message, which will be in every program sold and distributed during the matches this weekend, adds, “And we will all face ups and downs in life, which will affect it. It’s time we start taking our mental fitness as seriously as we do our physical fitness, and that starts with talking.”
source: people.com
