Review: THE CHOIR OF MAN, UK Tour
Mark Senior
The Choir of Man is quite simply, a lovely show. It leans fully into warmth, joy, and connection, and leaves you smiling and feeling full of love.
The production is very character focused and thrives on its characters. Each member of the cast brings a distinct personality and unique flair, making them each character very likeable. Each draws you for different reasons, and every performer gets their moment to shine.
Vocally, the show is astonishing. The voices are all so powerful and wonderfully varied, creating a rich and dynamic sound throughout. The musical choices reflect this range, offering a well-balanced mix of moving, emotional songs alongside high-energy, feel-good numbers, many of which become genuine showstoppers. With this being a jukebox musical, it is the kind of performance that is hard to passively watch. With sing-along moments scattered throughout, you’ll find yourself joining in (or resisting the urge to) for much of the show. The audience involvement is a great feature of the show, with cast members bringing people up on stage and weaving them into the show in ways that come across as natural, funny, and inclusive.
Adding to this immersive atmosphere is the unique pub setting. The on-stage bar, which is open before the show and during the interval, creates a fun, social environment where you can amusingly have a drink with the cast. The fact that drinks are also handed out during the performance is a playful and memorable touch that reinforces the show’s communal spirit.
One particularly special moment of this evening was during a performance featuring a chorus in the audience of around 250 choir members, singing with the cast for Chandelier. It was moving, powerful, and beautifully symbolic. For a show that celebrates inclusivity and community, this moment captured reflected this so wonderfully.
What makes The Choir of Man so engaging is the palpable sense of enjoyment from the cast. They throw themselves into every moment and genuinely look like they’re having so much fun, which, in turn, makes the audience want to have fun with them. It’s infectious.
There is little storyline to The Choir of Man, which some may deem as a shortcoming, but instead it is framed around a purposeful meaning that it aims to deliver. Beneath the fun and spectacle lies a meaningful message about connection, belonging, and shared experience.
However, the inclusion of an interval in this touring run could bring a slight drawback. While intervals are often welcome, here it feels a bit unnecessary. The second half loses a bit of momentum and feels slightly drawn out, which impacts the overall flow.
This is an uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable production. The Choir of Man is a celebration of music, people, and togetherness which it delivers in abundance.
**** Four Stars
Reviewed by Alexandra Tullah
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