From its early days starting at the Edinburgh fringe festival, this show has grown from strength to strength with runs in the West End and now a national tour.
Set in a traditional style pub that could be anywhere, Choir of Man is more about a vibe and opening your hearts and minds to the archetypal characters on stage.
From the moment you walk into the auditorium, you will realise immediately this is not a traditional show. The stage is already full with cast and members of the audience having a chat and a pint. Cast are also roaming through the stalls chatting and making friends for later. You are part of the show, the characters speak directly to you and a few of the audience get involved on stage. You are introduced to each man in turn by his real name and the personality type he is playing, joker, hard man, romantic etc.
The set allows flexibility while feeling intimate and lighting subtly creates the differing moods, enhancing the performance rather than distracting from it.
While there is no story in the usual sense, there are plenty of amazing vocal performances which more than make up for that. This show is more about the companionship found in a local pub, a group of very different men joining together for support through life events and to sing. The Poet is there as our guide and narrator, bridging the gap between songs and to wax lyrical on matters that will make you think and contemplate, the decline of the British pub, the importance of community, families and more.
It is difficult to single out any performer, each man brought something different to the stage, including instruments, with a moment to shine and lead a song and coming together to create a stage full of movement, sound, laughter and tears. There was impressive tap dancing from Niall Woodson, a version of 500 miles like you have never heard before by Gustav Melbardis and comedy highlights and high notes in Somebody to Love with Barman Joshua Lloyd. It doesn’t stop there, there isn’t a dry eye after Nimi Owoyemi’s version of Dance with my Father, another tug at the heart strings comes from Sam Walter with Hello. A change of pace is brought to you by Aaron Pottenger with a rousing Impossible Dream before Rob Godfrey serenades a lady leading to some laughs. More laughs are had with an unusual Under the Bridge, led by Ben Mabberley. There are times you can sing along, one of those is led with power by Levi Tyrell Johnson.
When the cast come together, strip back the musical accompaniment and let their voices soar the sound is incredible, the last song in act one was a true highlight of the show.
There is so much energy in the performance, always something going on in every part of the stage. The cast look like they are having the time of their lives, it really does feel less like a performance and more like a group of mates having a great time. That is infectious, there is a buzz of excitement in the theatre, you want to join in, and they give you opportunity to do that. It must be the audience reaction that spurs them on to deliver probably one of the most energetic numbers of the night towards the end, with leaping and intense choreography, the men definitely deserved a drink after that!
Choir of Man is something a little different, but don’t let that put you off. It might not sound like it works on paper but put the talents of the whole cast and a great selection of songs together and you have a show that will leave your spirits lifted and a smile on your face.
Runs until Saturday 18th July.
Reviewer: Annette Nuttall
Reviewed: 14th July 2026
North West End UK Rating: