AS A reviewer I’m privileged to see a lot more theatre than most, but that also makes you expectant of it being just ‘another day at the office’, with some days being more interesting than others,

However last night at The Alex I felt I was genuinely witnessing something new; the stage at the Alexandra in Birmingham wasn’t there – instead there was the friendliest pub with the best gig in town, aka Olivier-nominated ‘The Choir of Man’.

Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay have created a night at a bar called ‘The Jungle’, possibly the bar you’d love to find if the world was ending – and the atmosphere is brilliant. It’s an all-bloke, nine-hander cast and – with no real script cluttering things up – a 90-minute, celebration of male friendship, set to music.

Picture by Mark Senior. s

Oli Townsend (scenic and costume designer) gives us a solid pub that actually comes to life. Mosaic-stained glass bar mirrors headed up brandy, port, cigars, fine ales and more grace the back wall and a huge solid bar runs almost the width the stage. There are beers on tap, chalkboards, bar stools that become instruments – all so simple, but incredibly effective.

‘The Jungle’ is every inch a working-men’s pub, and the plot, such as it is, follows a group of friends through a night of drinking, arguing, singing, and telling stories. Each singer has a stereotype — There’s Levi Tyrell Johnson as the ‘Hard Man’, Sam Walter as the ‘Romantic’, Gustav Melbardis as ‘Maestro’, Aaron Pottenger as the ‘Pub Bore’, Jack Skelton as the ‘Handyman’, Oluwalonimi Owoyemi as the ‘Poet’, Rob Godfrey as the ‘Beast,’ Ben Mabberley as the ‘Joker and heading it all up Joshua Lloyd as the ‘Barman’. Best thing about them is that despite being hugely talented actors and singers, they come across as real people.

Picture by Mark Senior. s

The music is pop, folk, rock and musical theatre mashups, all sung live with stunning harmonies.

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The Choir of Man do barbershop, boogie, beatbox, and full-band energy with just nine voices and a lot of percussion by banging on the bar. The energy is infectious. The cast come back and forth into the audience, bearing pints, making mates and get everyone clapping and singing. You feel like you’re actually in the pub with them.

Amidst the banter and the beer, there’s some genuinely moving, monologues and songs about grief, fatherhood, breakups, and getting older. It all lands hard; because they’re delivered by real guys, not characters in a play. ‘500 Miles’ and ‘Dance with my Father Again’ got the whole theatre teary.

Picture by Mark Senior. s

‘Choir of Man’ is not aimed at traditional musical theatre fans.

It’s perfect for people who like gigs, stag and hen dos, for dads, and definitely for anyone who’s ever had a pint with mates and sang too loud.

It has been hailed by many as “the best night out they’ve had in theatre” and honestly, I can see why they say it. Personally, I think it might be better without the interval and just build to one big climax rather than a few false finishes, but hey! This is a show that’s changing all the time – it already goes from sadness to joy and operatic melancholy to panto high jinks on the sip of a pint, as you do on a good pub soiree.

On Press night a 200-piece community choir called Got2Sing joined the cast post-finale for a beautiful collaboration of ‘Chandelier’. This is a feature happening with a different local choir at every theatre on the tour apparently. So, in addition to doing their bit to help the hard-pressed hospitality industry this Choir of Man is banding with community choirs like Jeremy Clarkson is with farmers.

The Choir of Man isn’t trying to change theatre. It’s trying to remind you why live music and community feel so good. It’s funny, it’s loud, it’s a bit messy, and by the end you’ll be on your feet, arms around strangers, singing your heart out.

The Choir of Man is on at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre until July 19. Click here for times, tickets and more information.

 

 

 

****

 

Review by Euan Rose

Euan Rose Reviews