THE CHOIR OF MAN are delighted to reveal details of the new company who will re-open the hit musical at the Arts Theatre from 12 March, following a period of closure for some minor venue redevelopment, and play an extended season through until 31 August.
Who’s in the cast?
The new cast is Jason Brock (Thriller Live – lead vocalist, Lyric Theatre and Shaftesbury Theatre) as ‘Romantic’, Benji Lord (Dreamboats and Petticoats: Bringing on Back The Good Times!, world premiere, UK tour, The Ruff Tuff Cream Puff Estate Agency, world premiere, UK tour) as ‘Joker’, David Booth (The Threepenny Opera, Royal Philharmonic Choir, Fiddler On The Roof, Grange Park Opera, BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall) as ‘Pub Bore’, Paul McArthur (Tracks, Union Theatre, Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, Camden Fringe) as ‘Poet’, Oliver Jacobson (Come From Away, UK tour, Grease, UK tour) as ‘Barman’ and Alex Mallalieu (As You Like It, UK tour, Buddy Holly & The Cricketers, UK tour) and Toby Francis (High Fidelity, Hayes Theatre Co., We Will Rock You, Neil Gooding Productions) as swings.
The new members of the cast join pub regulars Rob Godfrey (Choir of Man – Sydney Opera House) as ‘Beast’, Ifan Gwilym-Jones (The Choir of Man, NCL; Australia and Chicago) as ‘Maestro’, George Knapper (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, UK Tour and The Choir of Man NCL; Canada; Australia; Chicago; Florida and West End) as ‘Handyman’ with Bradley Walwyn (We Will Rock You, Royal Caribbean; The Choir Of Man NCL and Australia) as ‘Hardman’. David Shute (Once: The Musical, Barn and The Choir of Man NCL; Chicago; Tampa; Australia; Edinburgh; Coventry) and Tom Carter-Miles (Frankenstein Illyria; The Choir of Man, NCL and West End) both return as swings.
Creative team
THE CHOIR OF MAN is created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay, directed by Nic Doodson, with Daniel Harnett as associate director and resident director; monologues written by Ben Norris; with musical supervision, vocal arrangements and orchestrations by Jack Blume, with Lee Freeman as resident musical director, and Alistair Higgins as associate musical supervisor; movement direction and choreography by Freddie Huddleston, with Adam Hilton as associate choreographer and movement director; scenic design by Oli Townsend, lighting design by Richard Dinnen, costume design and co-scenic design by Verity Sadler, sound design by Sten Severson, with Liam McDermott as associate sound designer; casting by Debbie O’Brien.
What’s the show about?
Welcome to THE JUNGLE, the best pub in the world.
Here, an (extra)ordinary cast of nine guys combine beautiful harmonies and foot-stomping singalongs with first-rate tap dance and poetic meditations on the power of community.
Brimming with hits from artists such as Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry to name but a few, this is a pub like no other!
An uplifting celebration of community and friendship with something for everyone – including free beer! Enjoy 90 minutes of feel-good, foot-stomping entertainment unlike anything else in the West End.
REVIEW by Stuart James ★★★★★ (2021)
Following three sell-out seasons at the Sydney Opera House and multiple sold-out US and European tours, The Choir of Man now brings its unique brand of beer, bants, and bangers to the Arts Theatre in the heart of London’s West End.
Featuring amazing reinventions of folk, pop, Broadway, and rock chart-toppers from artists including Guns ‘N’ Roses, Fun!, Adele, Avicii, Paul Simon, Sia, and many more. It’s a party, it’s a concert and it’s a lock-in like no other.
As you enter the theatre, you’re greeted by the cast and invited onstage to be served from their working onstage bar. As the cast joke, play card games, and stack plastic cups it’s clear you’re in for a very good time.
The West End premiere cast of nine are Sam Beverage as the Hard Man, Miles Anthony Daley (who made West End debut in Thriller Live) the Romantic, Matt Beveridge (The Choir of Man Sydney Opera House, USA Tour, Adelaide Festival, Titanic at Princess of Wales in Toronto) the Joker, George Bray (The Choir of Man at Sydney Opera House) the Maestro, Freddie Huddleston (original cast member of The Choir of Man, including US Tour, Edinburgh and Sydney Opera House) the Handyman, Richard Lock (Edinburgh, Sydney Opera House and US Tour of The Choir of Man) the Beast, Mark Loveday (original cast member of The Choir of Man, including US Tour, Edinburgh and Sydney Opera House) as the Barman, Ben Norris (the voice of Ben Archer in The Archers on BBC Radio 4) the Poet and Tyler Orphé-Baker (The Railway Children, King’s Cross Theatre) the Pub Bore.
As the show opens, Ben Norris as the Poet welcomes the audience makes sure we’ve all got a drink and introduces each cast member. Our Poet explains that some pubs have quizzes, some have darts clubs but The Jungle… has a choir. This sets the scene for the rest of the evening as the muti-talented cast entertains with stunning vocal arrangements by Jack Blume and invigorating choreography by Freddie Huddleston.
While Choir of Man may have no cohesive story, Ben Norris’s Poet monologues carry the evening along well with touching comments on masculinity, comradery, family, holding true to yourself and being stronger together. As the lads make their way through hit after hit, often picking up multiple instruments to join the band, the sheer energy of the cast is palpable and the audience catches on quickly with multiple mid-show standing ovations, cringe-worthy laugh out loud moments and plenty of chances to clap, whoop and sing along.
After multiple lockdowns, false starts and disappointments, Choir of Man is the perfect night out! Bursting at the seams with raw latent, powerful vocals and moving performances, grab a cheeky bevvy or two and get yourself down to The Arts Theatre to see the very special Choir of Man.
Accessible Performances
TBC
