Interview: Writer and performer Ben Norris on THE CHOIR OF MAN in London’s West End

Photo credit: Helen Maybanks

Back by popular demand, The Choir of Man has returned to the Arts Theatre in London’s West End. We spoke to writer and performer Ben Norris who reprises his role as ‘The Poet’ in this run ahead of the show’s press night this evening.

You’ve worked in a lot of different areas of entertainment/performance. What made you decide that this was the career for you? 

I used to get into quite a lot of trouble at school for acting up and being the class clown etc. Performing arts gave me a way to continue being the centre of attention but to get praised for it instead of being kicked out! Joking aside (well, half-joking aside), writing and performing is a way to connect with people - to explore life's big questions, and/or to distract from them, both of which I think are equally valuable. I’m too fidgety and have too many stupid ideas to sit in an office all day - I’d go mad! I think people who can do that are amazing, but I’m not one of them! 

You recently took your play Autopilot to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. How was that experience? 

F***ing hard and f***ing expensive! But also joyous to see something that has lived in my head for so long finally come to life in the real world, and some of the responses we got were just gorgeous. 

You also voice a regular character in radio show The Archers, how does that compare with performing in The Choir of Man? 

They are completely different. One is very live, complete with hecklers and beer spillages and no opportunity to go back and correct a mistake - it’s a big responsibility, a big party and some nights, it’s chaotic as hell! The Archers is big responsibility too, feeling the weight of that cultural institution, but it’s different. It is, at least ostensibly, much more measured. We still work very quickly, so there’s no room to dally - but we are working with scripts in hand, recording up to 3 episodes a day, and playing scenes naturalistically with no live audience to respond to. And there are no songs! The skill there is in doing everything with your voice and breath - they are your only communicative tools! It was a fun thing to learn. 

The Choir of Man is an exploration into contemporary masculinity and the way that men interact and support each other. Who would you say has been your greatest influence in life?

Jesus Christ (That’s an exclamation, not an answer!) Hard question. Right now, I’d probably say it’s a combination of my parents for being forever supportive of whatever mad thing I choose to pursue, my secondary school drama teacher Claire for introducing me to the thing that I now do for a living and setting me on the right path, and my friend Bianca for giving me my first paid acting jobs, accepting me on my first playwriting course, always encouraging me to keep going, to stay curious, and - recently - to try and keep my head above water with my own mental health struggles. I owe huge thanks to all my friends in that regard. 

In terms of examining masculinity, my friend Sam has been a big influence - he introduced me to the charity Beyond Equality, for whom I went on to volunteer. They lead workshops in schools with boys exploring gender and consent and other important issues, and training and working with them was hugely formative. Also my friend Ted at the Southbank Centre who first programmed me at their brilliant Being A Man Festival, where I got to experience innumerable wonderful talks and discussions and performances alongside presenting my own show. That was where the spark was first ignited. 

If you mean artistic influence, I couldn’t pick a single one; there are so many people whose work has shaped me, from so many different genres and disciplines - we’d be here for hours! 

What can audiences expect from The Choir of Man? 

If you need an arm around you, the show gives you that, and if you need some pure escapism, the show gives you that too. You can expect songs you know and songs you don’t, sometimes in some quite surprising arrangements, and a pint at the on-stage bar if you want one. It’s an invitation to dance, to sing, to connect, to be merry, and - above all - to have a bloody good night out.

The Choir of Man is currently booking at the Arts Theatre until 5 February 2023, with tickets available here.