Co-founded in 2017 by Jessica Broderick and Douglas Watts, Show Choir is the UK’s number one musical theatre community choir collective, with hundreds of members in multiple groups across Southwest England. This is their first year at the Fringe – not that you would be able to tell.
This was a slick debut – very well-rehearsed with sublime four-part harmony and excellent use of diminuendo and crescendo. Expertly conducted by the choir’s founders, whose energy was infectious, the choir were clearly confident under their direction. There was a small amount of choreography in some numbers which was simple, but effective and attainable for all singers, maintaining the high standard of performance.
The show took us through the last 100 years of musicals, picking a number from each of the last 10 decades. The song choices were thoughtful, varied and reflected the huge changes we have seen in musical theatre, including the introduction of jukebox musicals and the groundbreaking introduction of R&B and hip hop. There wasn’t a weak number in the repertoire, although my personal favourite was the title number from underrated musical Sunshine on Leith. A perfect choice for the Edinburgh Fringe!
I was especially impressed with the very strong bass section – unusual for an amateur choir and despite there only being four of them, they held their own excellently. Whenever I watch choirs, I always look for a sense of unity and enjoyment – both of which were abundant in this choir.
All in all, Show Choir provided the audience with a joyous hour of polished performances, and I look forward to them becoming regulars at the Fringe.
Reviewer: Rebecca Foster
Reviewed: 13th August 2024
North West End UK Rating: