Sten Severson Archives - thespyinthestalls.com

★★★★★

“this an ensemble piece at its finest, with a real sense of brotherhood amongst the whole cast”

The great British pub, previously everywhere, is now endangered – a ‘third space’ that’s slipping away. Enter ‘The Choir of Man’, a heartfelt, feel-good show where pints pour, voices soar, and everyone belongs – a new kind of safe space for theatre lovers and pub goers alike.

Walking through the doors of the Arts Theatre, we’re transported to ‘The Jungle’ – at first glance a typical local with typical personalities including a Barman, Hard Man and Handyman. But scratch the surface and it’s anything but, with a Poet, Romantic, Maestro and others turning beer-soaked bravado into a brotherhood of connection and creative outlet. There’s no narrative, with rhyming monologues linked by song, dance and live instrumentals exploring themes such as friendship and home. It’s rich in feeling, each man finding their voice before ending with a gut punch reveal and a raw folk farewell.

As a woman and a feminist, I was sceptical of seeing a show about men in a pub – I couldn’t have been more wrong. Created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay with monologues by Ben Norris, ‘The Choir of Man’ is full of tenderness and truth, reclaiming a traditionally hyper-masculine space as somewhere men can express themselves. It’s romanticised, the poetic monologues and feel-good vibes giving it a dreamlike glow; but my soul feels lighter for witnessing a bunch of blokes holding space for each other. It’s carefully constructed to add depth, such as the Romantic pouring his heart out to Adele’s ‘Hello’ while the lads slow-mo through some football highs and lows. A deeper thread is also woven in, ending with a poignant reminder of the importance of looking out for each other.

Nic Doodson’s direction blurs drama and daily life. The stage becomes a pub for audience and cast alike. The cast roams about, checking in and making you feel at home. Multiple numbers involve audience participation, including inviting people on stage and even offering extra drinks and crisps to keep us going. It’s exactly the kind of warm camaraderie one craves from a third space, and a complete breath of fresh air from a West End show.

‘The Choir of Man’ is a folk-pop-rock jukebox musical offering something for everyone, from ‘Chandelier’, to ‘Under the Bridge’ and even a cheeky rendition of ‘Escape (The Pina Colada Song)’. Though the real strength is Jack Blume’s marvellous orchestrations and arrangements, with interesting interpretations, complex harmonies, and modern mashups to surprise and satisfy the musically inclined.

Oli Townsend’s set design doesn’t just suggest a pub – it is one, complete with bar taps and beer mats. Verity Sadler’s costume design balances cohesion and character. Freddie Huddleston’s choreography beautifully contrasts moments of unity and disconnection. Richard Dinnen’s lighting design is joyful, full of vibrant colour and synced perfectly to the music. Sten Severson’s sound design brings out the multiple part harmonies, though the voices get a little lost during the tap dancing and pint glass clashing.

The newly assembled cast is electric, closing out the West End run before embarking on a UK tour. Paul McArthur’s Poet breathes life and love into each monologue, each song aching with feeling. Jason Brock is a passionate Romantic, with beautiful tenor and falsetto ranges that soar skyward. Ben Goffe’s Handyman proves a master of all trades, with expert singing, trumpet playing and fantastically fast, crisp tap footwork that’s rare outside a dance show. Though this an ensemble piece at its finest, with a real sense of brotherhood amongst the whole cast – if your gaze drifts, it’s always greeted with exchanges that radiate trust. The onstage band also deserves a mention for their firepower and finesse.

‘The Choir of Man’ is harmonious in every sense, creating a place of trust and love that everyone should experience. Catch it on the West End and then again on tour – you’ll come away feeling refreshed and hopeful.

The Choir of Man

Arts Theatre

Reviewed – 10th November 2021

★★★★★

“The Choir of Man is that rare thing, a simultaneously deeply familiar, yet different, West End musical experience”

“Welcome to the Jungle” is the friendly sign on stage that greets audiences as they enter for an eighty minute sing along at the Arts Theatre in Covent Garden—and what a welcome it turns out to be. The Choir of Man, first created in 2017 for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, has since toured around the world to great acclaim. It’s easy to see why. Despite being built around a simple premise—a group of men gathered together for an evening in their favourite pub, the Jungle—the show turns out to be more than just a bunch of blokes sitting around, swapping songs, and drinking beer. The Choir of Man is an updated take on the importance of the local pub in people’s lives. And there isn’t a whiff of stale beer from beginning to end.

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The Choir of Man, created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay, is built to entertain. It also pulls at the heartstrings in unexpected ways. The cast invites you into their lives, giving their real names. They’re not there to brag or to pretend to be something they’re not—but to talk frankly about their vulnerabilities. In doing so, they cast light on why men, in the midst of their greatest joys and sorrows, head unerringly to the local pub. Doodson and Kay’s approach strikes just the right chord—especially when sung to the right tunes. The Choir of Man sounds like it shouldn’t work as well as it does, but the earnest, often rhyming, monologues (written by Ben Norris) create solid characters for us to identify with. The monologues are also the introductions to the roles that are linked with the songs. This technique does verge on the corny from time to time, such as when a man, married too young, and bored with the relationship, puts a personal ad in the local paper. But The Choir of Man has a fresh take on Rupert Holmes’ Pina Colada Song, (written long before dating apps, remember). The spirit the cast brings to this song, and the other old favourites, creates an infectious energy. When asked, there are plenty of volunteers from the audience willing to go on stage and take part in the fun.

The production displays a wealth of easily accessible performance and design touches that match the concept. The performers of The Choir of Man have pleasant voices, project solid niceness of character without being dull, and they’re well dressed in unassuming clothes (good choices by costume designer Verity Sadler). They move well (kudos to Freddie Huddleston for the choreography that manages to look natural even while upping the energy in the room.) The talented live band is placed above the pub so that the audience can see their work, while watching the dynamic singing and dancing below. Oli Townsend has created an effective set design that gives director Nic Doodson just the right kind of space to work with. The playing time of The Choir of Man is also well judged—long enough to keep the audience delighted, yet eager for more.

The most remarkable thing about The Choir of Man is not what a good evening’s entertainment it is, and it is—but in seeing how many men in the audience seemed more than content to be there cheering and singing along instead of spending the evening at, you guessed it, their local pub. This show clearly hits a nerve with the guys—and it’s a happy one. But The Choir of Man is not just for them. The atmosphere throughout is adroitly managed by the team on stage and off it, and everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, will feel welcome at The Jungle. The Choir of Man is that rare thing, a simultaneously deeply familiar, yet different, West End musical experience. And the more intimate Arts Theatre in Covent Garden, in the vicinity of all the big musical theatres, is exactly the right place for this singular show.

THE CHOIR OF MAN

Arts Theatre

★★★★★

“this an ensemble piece at its finest, with a real sense of brotherhood amongst the whole cast”

THE CHOIR OF MAN

Arts Theatre

Reviewed on 7th October 2025

by Hannah Bothelton

Photography by Mark Douet

Previously reviewed at this venue:

THE CHOIR OF MAN

THE CHOIR OF MAN

THE CHOIR OF MAN

Arts Theatre

Reviewed – 10th November 2021

★★★★★

“The Choir of Man is that rare thing, a simultaneously deeply familiar, yet different, West End musical experience”

Reviewed by Dominica Plummer

Photography by Helen Maybanks

The Choir of Man

Arts Theatre until January 2022

Previously reviewed this year by Dominica:

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