Review: THE CHOIR OF MAN, Arts Theatre - July 2023
Photo credit: The Other Richard
Well Besties, welcome to the jungle and check your toxic masculinity at the door because the boys are here to welcome you to the most wholesome night of pub fun in your life!
If you’re walking in expecting your traditional sit down and shut up type of West End production then this one isn’t for youm that’s for sure! But if you’re ready to drink, laugh, cry, sing, and dance all night then The Choir of Man is one million percent the right choice! Make sure to get there early enough to enjoy a crisp pint of beer at the working stage bar before the show begins. You may even meet a friendly face or two!
While there may not be a traditional storyline per se to The Choir of Man, that’s not to say there isn’t any story. There are plenty of stories, each man on that stage has a story that they are excited to share (and at times sing) with you. Mike ‘The Poet’ Hamway’s smooth-as-whiskey monologues will drive you through the evening in the most beautiful way. You’d sometimes think of monologues as dull expositional dribble but Hamway truly has a way with words, every inflection just driving home the truthful and powerful message deep within. You’ll spend the entire night with goosebumps enjoying the stunning vocals on display whilst absentmindedly dancing away with the infectious energy and pure joy emanating from that stage. You don’t doubt for a second that every single person on that stage is there for the sheer love of the art.
Adam ‘The Hardman’ Boyjou, Michele ‘The Maestro’ Maria Benvenuto, Andrew ‘The Bore’ J Carter, Ben ‘The Handyman’ Goffe (boy, can he dance!), Luke ‘The Romantic’ Conner Hall (god, the vocals on this man!), Daniel ‘Joker’ Harnett, Mark ‘The Barman’ Irwin and Tom ‘The Beast’ Carter-Miles all join Hamway to the make up the upper talented Choir of Man, and effortlessly holding down the music is Emmanuel Nana Kwasi Bonsu on drums, Jack Hartigan on guitar, Darius Luke Thompson on violin and Sam Tookey on bass.
The beautifully intimate setting of the Arts Theatre perfectly suits the collaboration of all these lovely gentlemen on stage who not only effortlessly blend with each other whilst remaining so beautifully unique, but deliver a beautifully charming collaboration with the audience too. No cheesy audience participation here, it just comes naturally!
The working stage bar is the cherry on top of the perfection and despite clearly knowing you are sat watching a stage, the gents do amazingly well to ensure you feel like an extension of the jungle.
We don’t see this beautiful production going anywhere any time soon but Besties, we couldn’t recommend this show more! This is the kind of production you could see over and over again and you’ll have a unique experience every single time. So get yourself down to the Arts Theatre to grab yourself a beer with The Choir of Man!
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Natalie Pedro
The Choir of Man is currently booking at London’s Arts Theatre until 18 February 2024, with tickets available here.