The Choir of Man at Royal and Derngate Theatre Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Janine Rumble

WOW!!!! What a truly amazing experience Choir of Man is! This is by far the best show I have seen in a very long time. It’s not just a show, it is much, much more than that, it is an all round unique experience, where, by the end of the evening, you will have laughed till your cheeks hurt, sung your heart out, maybe shed a little tear, danced, stood at the bar and felt a part of it, like someone has opened the saloon bar door and accepted you as one of their own.

Before seeing Choir of Man, I did not know what it was about. I had heard of it and heard what a brilliant show it was and how many people loved it, but they did not tell me what to expect when I walked through auditorium doors and I am glad they didn’t as it added to the uniqueness of the whole experience.

Spoiler Alert: Walking into the auditorium, I thought we were late and that the show had already started. We weren’t late, but the show had started, but not in the traditional way you would expect. Up on the stage was your traditional local public house bar, with sticky floors, terrible wallpaper and the walls littered with frame photos of the locals mixed with pictures of animals dressed in clothes. The bar was long and Derngate bar staff were pulling pints for people. People were milling around on the stage, sitting at the old, round wooden tables on small velour covered stools chatting and supping their pints. Some people were chatting to each other in the aisles, everyone was friendly, laughing and one man was playing a guitar, entertaining the locals, of which, we were now one of them.

As we took our seats, we became one of the locals, welcomed and accepted by the men of the pub. We were welcomed in like old friends, we were introduced to all of the men who frequent the pub and who formed the pub choir, we were told information about them that was relatable, that made you smile, that made you laugh, that made them real, all told through the poetry of the poet, played by brilliantly by Oluwalonimi (Nimi) Owoyemi, who kept the pace throughout the show, feeding us titbits about each of the characters, explaining how the choir came to be, explaining how the pub is not just a pub to drink in, but a place of safety, a place of brotherhood, a place where men could be themselves and share their feelings, a place where everyone was accepted and supported and welcome.

Nimi told us all about each of the characters in such a warm and funny way that you felt like you knew them or someone like them in your own life. Each character had a nickname, but their real names and their backgrounds were real, making them less of an actor performing a play on the stage and more of an everyday person in the pub. Characters such as the Romantic, Sam Walter, Handyman, Jack Skelton, Barman, Joshua Lloyd, Maestro, Gustav Melbardis, Hardman, Niall Woodson, Beast, Lewis Dragisic, Bore, Aaron Pottenger and Joker, Ben Mabberley. Each had their own story to tell through song, tap dancing (amazing skills) and drinking, lots and lots of drinking.

By the interval, you felt like just another local in the pub, so much so that you could walk onto the stage and queue up to get a drink at the bar, or as we did, take photos of ourselves in ‘The Jungle’ (the name of the pub).

Throughout the show, audience members were brought out of the audience and up onto the stage, so expect lots of interaction, I managed to grab two bags of crisps that were catapulted into the audience!

People had a go at trying to win a beer playing beer pong, people were serenaded on stage. It was a very funny, raucous night, but also mixed with vulnerability and poignancy. A real glimpse into the life of men in a pub, men in a choir and how they don’t go just for the drink, but the sense of belonging and family it gives them.

I highly recommend that everyone goes and sees Choir of Man on its UK tour. It will be an experience that will stay with you for a very long time.

The singing is amazing, the song choices (a mix of old and new) will have you singling along, nodding your head, tapping your feet and clapping your hands till they are sore. The men’s voices are incredible, powerful, each in their own right, but in the second part, when they join together and sing as a choir, WOW!!!!! What an amazing sound!!!

At the end of the performance, they had other choirs from the local area join them in singing the song ‘Chandelier’ and oh my goodness. When they all sang together, what an amazing and moving experience. Truly wonderful. I came out of the auditorium wanting to join a choir and be a part of something so wonderful.

Please go and see this show for yourself, you won’t regret it. The funniest part of the night for me was the urinal scene – I will say no more, other than, I have not laughed so much in a long time – hysterical.
I give this show 5/5 stars but would give many more if I could.

The cast are incredible, the singing is incredible, the story is incredible and one that people need to hear and experience – a truly moving experience.

Rating: 5/5

Choir of Man is at Royal and Derngate Northampton till Saturday 10th October before carrying on its UK tour. Tickets can be purchased from the box office or online The Choir Of Man – Royal & Derngate Tickets are priced from £35.

https://royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/the-choir-of-man/