The Jungle Pub has arrived in Peterborough with the phenomenal The Choir of Man.
The Choir of Man is a 2017 British musical with book by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay. Originally appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this hit musical started on the West End in 2021 and continued welcoming guests for a long time: only shutting recently to embark on a UK tour. The Choir of Man is a non-traditional musical set in the pub, The Jungle. Like any UK pub, we meet the regular locals who celebrate community friendship, pub culture and their own concerns with each other. With high energy song and dance, these locals are ready for a good time! The Choir of Man is a show I’m quite fond off, having seen it last April (nearly a year ago exactly) in London’s West End. Knowing this, I was prepared for a fantastic performance! The experience was extra special as two local choirs got to sing alongside the cast at the end, making for a surreal moment for everyone in the theatre.
One feature of The Choir of Man which makes it stand out is the inclusion of people in The Jungle: both before and during the show. Prior to the show starting and during the interval; you are able to enter The Jungle Pub to buy your own pint. During this time, the cast come out and start interacting with the audience. This experience makes the pub feel more homely and comfortable, making a great connection with the audience instantly. During the show, audience members are sometimes invited onto stage. Whilst on stage, the cast bring them into the pub and make them part of the show: leading to great humorous moments and brilliant opportunities for audience members. One aspect of The Choir of Man I’ve already enjoyed is the monologues around men’s mental health. As a topic which has been seen as taboo, highlighting the importance of talking and sharing feelings with friends is important: making for a strong message behind the fun of The Choir of Man.
Each member of the cast is given an archetype, allowing them to fit the character’s personality. Together, they make a strong vocal choir; allowing them to capture each song perfectly. Joshua Lloyd plays the Barman. Lloyd leads on ‘Escape’ and was able to work brilliantly in the comedic moments of this song, including the exciting dancing. Rob Godfrey plays the Beast. As discussed at the beginning, The Beast is actually soft deep down and Godfrey is able to portray this well during ‘Teenage Dream’: in which he serenades an audience member. Aaron Pottenger plays the Bore. Being able to sing incredibly well, Pottenger worked well acting a bit more ‘dull’ (as per the character) compared to the others, whilst also having lots of fun. Niall Woodson plays the Handyman. Woodson is able to tap dance incredibly well, which is a great sequence which discusses being too busy for others.
Levi Tyrell Johnson plays the Hardman. Tyrell Johnson was vocally fantastic, singing through each song with passion. Ben Mabberley plays the Joker. Leading ‘Some Nights’, Mabberley was able to bring both humour and vocals to the role. Gustav Malbardis plays the Maestro. Malbardis was comedically fantastic throughout the show, especially during ‘500 Miles’. Owuwalonimi (Nimi) Owoyemi the plays Poet. Leading most of the monologues, Owoyemi weaved through each section whilst keeping us engaged. He also had some great vocals and relationships with his other cast members. Sam Walter plays the Romantic. Walter gets to have the stand out moment in the show singing ‘Hello’. Whilst the rest of the men are watching football, the Romantic suffers from heartbreak: another important look at men’s mental health. Walter has incredible talent, belting perfectly the entire song!
The Choir of Man continues to open its doors in Peterborough until Saturday 18th April. Book now!
Tickets for this performance were provided complimentary. Many thanks to the production team, PR team and Landmark Theatres.
Max
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