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BrumHour saw The Choir of Man at the invite of The Alexandra.
By George Elsmere-Whitney
The Choir of Man at The Alexandra: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐ A truly uplifting show
Directed by Nic Doodson, Created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay
Welcome to The Jungle, the pub at the centre of The Choir of Man. You know this pub, or one very like it. The floors are sticky, there are pork scratchings behind the bar, and the wallpaper is older than you are. You probably know the patrons too: the man who wants to talk your ear off, the bruiser looking for a fight, and the musician who finds his way to the piano after a few beers. Onstage, they become familiar archetypes: the Bore (Aaron Pottenger), the Hardman (Levi Tyrell Johnson), the Maestro (Gustav Melbardis), and more.
Don’t expect a conventional jukebox musical with a plot engineered around familiar songs. While The Choir of Man is packed with popular hits by the likes of Queen, Adele, and The Proclaimers, there is very little story threading them together. Instead, the Poet (Nimi Owoyemi) keeps things moving with spoken-word poetry to introduce us to the characters, the pub, and the central message of the show.
Partnered with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), the show presents the pub as a “communal front room”: a place to gather, connect and feel less alone. Its central message is about the vital role third spaces can play in supporting mental health, particularly for men.
The vocal arrangements, put together by Jack Blume, are sublime. The cast’s voices are showcased beautifully in tight harmonies and inventive rearrangements of well-known songs. There is also impressive musicianship on display, with several of the cast playing a variety of instruments on stage.
The fourth wall is a vague concept at the Jungle. The cast use their real names, and the Poet offers personal details of where each cast member is from and what home means to them. The onstage bar is a real, functional bar, serving drinks before the show and during the interval. The cast regularly spill off the stage, handing out free pints, throwing bags of crisps, and looking for audience members to pull up on stage to be serenaded or to assist in building towers of beer mats. Even the usual theatre rules feel relaxed, with audience participation and photography actively welcomed.
The Choir of Man feels like a night out we’ve all been on many times, with plenty of silliness, raucous singing and serious conversations tucked amongst the fun. Its joyful exuberance never undermines its sincere argument for pubs as places of community, connection and emotional honesty. It’s a love letter to the humble boozer, and a truly uplifting show. The Choir of Man is at The Alexandra until Saturday 18th July 2026. Book tickets here: atgtickets.com/shows/the-choir-of-man/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham
