The Choir of Man - Arts Theatre London - Review

Since premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017, The Choir of Man has gone from strength to strength, gaining success and accolades across the globe. With an all-male cast of vocalists and musicians, and a roughly 90 minute no interval running time, The Choir of Man opens its arms and brings the audience into The Jungle, their local pub where they are each a member of the pub choir.

In this ensemble piece that balances, music, song, comedy and poetry, we are guided through the stories of each choir member. At first, each is given a generic descriptive name such as The Romantic, the barman, The Bore and the Joker, the types of guys that you could meet in your local pub. Through the songs that are performed throughout, and the clever monologues performed by the Poet (played here by Paul McArthur), we learn more about each character and the lives of the real people who play them.  This realism and individuality gives the show its heart, as regular references to the importance of a pub as a place that men can go to talk and to be listened to bring the story home.

 Each cast member is given their chance to shine, with highlights including Kristain Morse’s take on ‘Hello’, a high energy all cast performance of ‘Some Nights’, McArthur’s ‘Dance with my father’, a singalong of the Proclaimer’s classic ‘500 miles’ and Oliver Jacobson’s hilarious ‘Pina Colada Song’, to name but a few. This is a show that truly allows the audience to get to know the characters and the performers themselves, giving it that true throw the doors open, everyone is welcome feel.

 Whilst the songs performed with such talent, the laid-back atmosphere where photography is allowed throughout and the regular invitation to join in with the pub feeling with free beers could easily be seen as the shows main selling points, I feel that its brilliance lays in its simplicity. A group of friends singing in a pub, because that it what they enjoy doing, because the pub is their safe space, where the men don’t cry mentality is abandoned and troubles can be drowned in a beer or cuddled in a warm cup of tea. The true message of the vitalness of talking about mental health is not hidden cleverly in jokes and banter, but talked about with heart and pride, there’s no shame here.

A four piece band expertly plays its way through a multitude of well known hits, frequently joined by the members of the cast as they easily switch between guitars and banjos, accordions and drums, whistles and even tap shoes. Actor musicians, truly getting their moment in the spotlight with the success of Benjamin Button just up the road from the Choir of Man, should be celebrated and praised as they put their heart and soul into every moment of performance.

Fun, funny and full of fabulous music and performances, The Choir is Man is a crowd pleaser as it leaves you smiling from ear to ear whilst an importance message lingers on your mind.

The Choir of Man runs at the Arts Theatre, and is currently booking through to 31st August 2025.