The Choir Of Man - Arts Theatre

[Mark]

So glad that this show is finally getting a West End run’ I’ve seen this in both Sydney and at the Wonderground Earls Court and it is a total joy from start to finish.
The musical arrangements and song selection is brilliant and both casts I’ve seen were great vocalists.

Oh, and there’s free beer!

[grannyjx6]

I booked tickets yesterday. We are seeing Cinderella in the afternoon, so a bit of a contrast. 🤣

[FrontroverPaul]

I'd not heard of The Choir Of Man so checked out You Tube and there's a great (official) mini concert there. Immediately hooked.

There were £35 tickets for the first few performances under The London Theatre Week promotion which has now ended.  Nabbed a front row seat.

[aliwag]

I was fortunate enough to see this recently in Coventry, as part of the City of Culture. IT IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mark]

Cast announcement. Lots of familiar faces from the Sydney Opera House and the Wonderground casts.

[FrontroverPaul]

Opening night at the Arts Theatre and I reckon they've got another big hit as good in its own way as Six. The blend of perfectly performed musical numbers, comedy banter, acrobatic dancing and some touching monologues plus chat and introductions added up to a very special evening and the wildest audience reception I've seen for many moons. Running time tonight about 95 minutes with no interval. I was in row A stalls and got my free beer from the on-stage pub but not everyone did and I'd advise getting there by 7.15. Not sure whether they were distributed to people in the Circle. There is some opportunity to go on stage and be serenaded for people at the ends of stalls rows, with plenty of willing volunteers, and encouragement to sing and clap along on the upbeat numbers. Highly recommended for a fun night out whether alone like me or with a partner or group.

[Someone in a tree]

Can anyone post a song list? Just a pic of the programme would be great. Please and ta

[forevercolours]

I saw this last night and had such a great time!! It isn’t selling particularly well as they have had to shut the circle a few times but that just added to the intimacy of the whole thing. They are all incredibly talented and this show is exactly what everyone needs right now. Would really recommend nabbing a ticket. We sat second row stalls and got plenty of free beer and crisps throughout the show!

[BurlyBeaR]

I didn’t like the look of it from that WEL clip. It all looked a bit boozy/laddish/silly. Tell me I’m wrong.

[Mr Snow]

Nov 22, 2021 10:29:19 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

I didn’t like the look of it from that WEL clip. It all looked a bit boozy/laddish/silly. Tell me I’m wrong.

Well it certainly was in Edinburgh a couple of years ago.

I may well just be a musical snob, but now I know that if you introduce a character as having a voice like Pavarotti, I will laugh out loud when it runs out he's a baritone. 

At least in Edinburgh it was short.

[Mark]

Returning in October following the summer runs of Bonnie & Clyde and Bad Jews.

[richey]

Mar 24, 2022 22:03:59 GMT Mark said:

Returning in October following the summer runs of Bonnie & Clyde and Bad Jews.

This is great news. It's a brilliant feelgood show,and I have to admit I'm a bit obsessed with it at the moment. Have already made two special trips to London to see it and booked for the final date next week.

[david]

When this show first got announced as coming to the WE, it really wasn’t a show that I was planning on seeing as it just didn’t sound my kind of thing. However when the show made an appearance at this years WEL, it peaked enough interest for me to get a £20 rush ticket from TT this morning to end my London trip on a musical note having seen all plays so far. The system gave me F10 in the stalls.

Quite honestly, whatever my preconceptions about this show I may of had walking into the ARTS theatre this afternoon, after the 95 minutes, I had a brilliant afternoon and came out loving it. As well as the on stage pub, the sides of the auditorium have also been decked out to give the whole auditorium that pub feel which adds to the fun. For me having the intimate nature of the ARTS auditorium works well to help recreate that pub atmosphere that wouldn’t really work in a larger theatre.

Pre show the cast wander around talking to you (I ended up talking to one of the cast who was from Yorkshire ). The mix of monologues, music and dance works well and even though there really isn’t any actual plot doesn’t really detract from enjoying the show. Each of the guys gets a moment to shine with some group numbers thrown in. It was great to see Lemuel Knight in the show after seeing him the Birmingham Rep’s “”What’s New Pussycat” who gave a fantastic rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” here.

The mix of musical numbers ( rock, pop, MT, folk) works well with plenty of opportunities for audience participation either on stage or singing along (particularly to the Proclaimers “500 miles” ) to create a real party atmosphere with plenty of comedy thrown into the mix.

As an added bonus, I got some free beer mats and packets of crisps at the end of the show as the cast chucked them into the audience.

I’d definitely recommend seeing this. It a fun time at the theatre and a chance to sit back and switch your brain off for a bit.

[BurlyBeaR]

Oct 9, 2022 17:40:52 GMT david said:

When this show first got announced as coming to the WE, it really wasn’t a show that I was planning on seeing as it just didn’t sound my kind of thing. However when the show made an appearance at this years WEL, it peaked enough interest for me to get a £20 rush ticket from TT this morning to end my London trip on a musical note having seen all plays so far. The system gave me F10 in the stalls.

Quite honestly, whatever my preconceptions about this show I may of had walking into the ARTS theatre this afternoon, after the 95 minutes, I had a brilliant afternoon and came out loving it. As well as the on stage pub, the sides of the auditorium have also been decked out to give the whole auditorium that pub feel which adds to the fun. For me having the intimate nature of the ARTS auditorium works well to help recreate that pub atmosphere that wouldn’t really work in a larger theatre.

Pre show the cast wander around talking to you (I ended up talking to one of the cast who was from Yorkshire ). The mix of monologues, music and dance works well and even though there really isn’t any actual plot doesn’t really detract from enjoying the show. Each of the guys gets a moment to shine with some group numbers thrown in. It was great to see Lemuel Knight in the show after seeing him the Birmingham Rep’s “”What’s New Pussycat” who gave a fantastic rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” here.

The mix of musical numbers ( rock, pop, MT, folk) works well with plenty of opportunities for audience participation either on stage or singing along (particularly to the Proclaimers “500 miles” ) to create a real party atmosphere with plenty of comedy thrown into the mix.

As an added bonus, I got some free beer mats and packets of crisps at the end of the show as the cast chucked them into the audience.

I’d definitely recommend seeing this. It a fun time at the theatre and a chance to sit back and switch your brain off for a bit.

That’s a hard pass for me!

[FrontroverPaul]

I always try to sit in the front row of the stalls, and I did for Choir Of Man, but don't welcome audience interaction - to the extent that when I've been aware of its likelihood in advance I've occasionally emailed theatres asking not to be approached, and I wasn't.

As I recall Choir Of Man it's mainly pre-show, very casual and friendly, and I was just asked how I was and invited up to the stage for the (free) beer from the bar.

It's a smashing little show and even as someone who's a bit anti-social and reserved I would recommend it to everyone and echo all that david has posted.

[richey]

The guys are really welcoming. I really hate any attention but on my second visit, sat in the second row, I got invited up on to the stage and sat at one of the tables whilst one of them sang "The Impossible Dream" to me. I loved it!

[TallPaul]

Why would I want to go all the way to that London to talk to someone from Yorkshire? Probably wouldn't understand them anyway. 😉

[showgirl]

Oct 10, 2022 7:43:49 GMT TallPaul said:

Why would I want to go all the way to that London to talk to someone from Yorkshire? Probably wouldn't understand them anyway. 😉

I thought you were all strong, silent types up there anyway?

[TallPaul]

Indeed, showgirl. I fear our david got swept up in it all and allowed himself to be taken in. Actors are professional liars after all.

[david]

Oct 11, 2022 9:29:05 GMT TallPaul said:

Indeed, showgirl . I fear our david got swept up in it all and allowed himself to be taken in. Actors are professional liars after all.

I most certainly did TallPaul. Also, this is a first for me but I didn’t even get up and dance. There was one lady on Sunday afternoon who must I’d been dancing for the entire show. I think FOH staff gave up in the end trying to get her to sit down. 

[theatremiss]

Well what a gem of a show this is. I saw it tonight, having kept it off my radar for some time as thinking I wouldn’t like it. Well how wrong was I? I just loved the relaxed atmosphere, the staging and the reworking of some well known pop classics. Some serious talent on stage, I noticed a coup,e of ex-Jersey Boys and one of the guys who was bugging me as to where I’d seen him before and I then realised it was in The Commitments. I left the theatre, happy and with a smile on my face, My only regret is not seeing it sooner as I feel sure I will be making a return visit.

[TheOneOnTheLeft]

Total recommendation from me!
The guys are simply adorable and the music and singing is great as is the atmosphere throughout.
Strictly, it is neither a Musical nor a Concert but something in between. The performance duration is only around 90 minutes and they play Friday afternoon shows which can nearly be fitted before an evening show.
I would not sit in the front row again, though, as the stage is very high and looking up gave me a neck ache the next day. But still worth it!
(They now have signs at the restrooms apologising for their state - this must really be the crappiest theatre in Greater London.)

[BurlyBeaR]

Looks like there’s another version of this going round called Choir! Choir! Choir! The Epic 80’s Tour. Sounds very similar with audience participation etc but just two blokes in the cast. Says it’s been a phenomenon since it was founded in 2011 so who’s ripping off who?,

[Dr Tom]

Finally saw this yesterday in an attempt to fit in a Good Friday matinee (and surprisingly few shows taking advantage of people not being at work). I picked up a seat at the end of the back row of the Dress Circle for £17.50. I think they only go on sale on the day. A perfect clear (and comfortable) view, although you don't get offered any free beer!

I also very fortunate in that I was hoping to see Mountview graduate Lucas Koch, who is a swing in the show, and not only was he on, he also got to tap dance and play his trumpet. So I couldn't have timed this any better.

Nine very talented guys (with three swings on - one of whom isn't in the cast on the website). The songs are very good. There's perhaps a bit too much talking (the couple next to me started talking between themselves at various points, but I don't think they spoke much English, I suspect this is the type of show that gets recommended to tourists). It's also rather odd when they go out of character towards the end and talk about the real backgrounds of the actors, but in a way that leaves gender preferences rather ambiguous).

Growing a beard seems to be a requirement of getting a part in the show. There's a really funny men's bathroom scene as well.

A real feel good show. I'm not sure if this is rewatchable in the same way as many traditional musicals, as the same songs are played every time, but this is quite a success story with the various international and cruise ship productions going on.

[richey]

Apr 8, 2023 21:03:12 GMT Dr Tom said:

Finally saw this yesterday in an attempt to fit in a Good Friday matinee (and surprisingly few shows taking advantage of people not being at work). I picked up a seat at the end of the back row of the Dress Circle for £17.50. I think they only go on sale on the day. A perfect clear (and comfortable) view, although you don't get offered any free beer!

I also very fortunate in that I was hoping to see Mountview graduate Lucas Koch, who is a swing in the show, and not only was he on, he also got to tap dance and play his trumpet. So I couldn't have timed this any better.

Nine very talented guys (with three swings on - one of whom isn't in the cast on the website). The songs are very good. There's perhaps a bit too much talking (the couple next to me started talking between themselves at various points, but I don't think they spoke much English, I suspect this is the type of show that gets recommended to tourists). It's also rather odd when they go out of character towards the end and talk about the real backgrounds of the actors, but in a way that leaves gender preferences rather ambiguous).

Growing a beard seems to be a requirement of getting a part in the show. There's a really funny men's bathroom scene as well.

A real feel good show. I'm not sure if this is rewatchable in the same way as many traditional musicals, as the same songs are played every time, but this is quite a success story with the various international and cruise ship productions going on.

It's definitely rewatchable. I've seen it six times and have two more visits booked. A friend of mine recently went for his 16th visit. I adore this show!