The Choir of Man
{{Short description|Theatrical production}}{{Infobox musical
| name = The Choir of Man
| image = ChoirofManPoster.jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = West End Promotional Poster
| music = Various Artists
| lyrics = Various Artists
| premiere_date = August 2017
| premiere_location = Edinburgh Fringe
| book = Nic Doodson, Andrew Kay
}}
The Choir of Man is a British musical created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay.{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Sophie|date=2021-09-03|title='The Choir of Man' to open in the West End|url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/the-choir-of-man-to-open-in-the-west-end|access-date=2021-09-29|website=London Theatre Guide|language=en}} Set in a traditional British or Irish pub, the show features a working on-stage bar from which pints of beer are poured for the audience during the performance.{{Cite news|title=Review {{!}} 'The Choir of Man' invites you into a pub for a sticky singalong|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/the-choir-of-man-invites-you-into-a-pub-for-a-sticky-singalong/2018/11/22/53f9d8fc-edaa-11e8-8679-934a2b33be52_story.html|access-date=2021-09-29|issn=0190-8286}} Throughout the show, the cast of nine multi-instrumentalist singers perform arrangements of well known pop and rock songs arranged and orchestrated by the show's musical supervisor Jack Blume, while dialogue takes the form of spoken word monologues written by performance poet Ben Norris.{{Cite web|title=The Choir of Man to open in the West End {{!}} WhatsOnStage|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/the-choir-of-man-to-open-in-the-west-end_54838.html|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.whatsonstage.com|date=6 September 2021 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=Interview with Ben Norris|url=https://www.voicemag.uk/interview/2777/interview-with-ben-norris|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Voice Magazine|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|date=2021-07-25|title=The Choir of Man at London Wonderground|url=https://www.theatrebubble.com/2021/07/the-choir-of-man-at-london-wonderground/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Theatre Bubble|language=en-GB}} The movement direction and choreography is by tap dancer Freddie Huddleston.{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Bryan-Keyth|title=BWW Review: THE CHOIR OF MAN at The Grand 1894 Opera House|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/houston/article/BWW-Review-THE-CHOIR-OF-MAN-at-The-Grand-1894-Opera-House-20181012|access-date=2021-09-29|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}}
The show was first presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017,{{Cite web|title=#EdFringe17 Comedy Q&A: Tom Brandon from Choir of Man by Martin Walker|url=http://broadwaybaby.com/features/edfringe17-comedy-qa-tom-brandon-from-choir-of-man/1754|access-date=2021-09-29|website=broadwaybaby.com|language=en}} and has since had seasons at venues around the world, including the Sydney Opera House{{Cite web|title=The Choir of Man|url=https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/content/soh/events/past-events/cabaret/2021/the-choir-of-man.html|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Sydney Opera House|language=en}} and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.{{Cite web|last=Stoltenberg|first=John|date=2018-11-22|title=Review: 'The Choir of Man' at The Kennedy Center|url=https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2018/11/21/review-the-choir-of-men-at-the-kennedy-center/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=DC Metro Theater Arts|language=en-US}}
Since 2018, The Choir of Man has been a resident show on board the Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Encore cruise ships.{{Cite web|title=The Choir of Man on NCL|url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles.cfm?ID=4782|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.cruisecritic.co.uk|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|title=Norwegian Encore Cruise Ship {{!}} Norwegian Encore Deck Plans {{!}} Norwegian Cruise Line|url=https://www.ncl.com/uk/en/cruise-ship/encore|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.ncl.com}}
Background
After working together since 2014 on the production of A Cappella music stage show Gobsmacked!,{{Cite web|last=Robbins|first=Caryn|title=GOBSMACKED! The Amazing A Cappella & Beatboxing Show Announces N.A. Tour Debut|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/GOBSMACKED-The-Amazing-A-Cappella-Beatboxing-Show-Announces-NA-Tour-Debut-20170802|access-date=2021-09-30|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}} in 2016 Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay came up with the idea for a show about 'normal men', who sing in their local pub's choir.{{Cite web|last=Ltd|first=Underbelly|title=Cheers to The Choir of Man - Blog|url=https://www.londonwonderground.co.uk/blog/cheers-to-the-choir-of-man|access-date=2021-09-30|website=London Wonderground|language=en}} Having co-created Gobsmacked! with Doodson, Jack Blume was brought on board as the show's musical arranger. Soon afterwards Freddie Huddleston, who had previously worked with Blume on a workshop project, joined the creative team as the choreographer and movement director. The show's premiere season was at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in the Assembly Rooms Music Hall on Princes Street.{{Cite web|title=Fringe Q&A's: The Choir of Man on finally playing the festival, Sean Connery and the binmen of Barcelona|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/arts_ents/15413424.fringe-q-as-choir-man-finally-playing-festival-sean-connery-binmen-barcelona/|access-date=2021-09-30|website=HeraldScotland|date=21 July 2017 |language=en}} The original cast included actor and poetry slam champion Ben Norris.{{Cite web|last=Literature|first=Nottingham UNESCO City of|date=2017-04-17|title=Ben Norris|url=https://nottinghamcityofliterature.com/our-community/ben-norris|access-date=2021-09-30|website=Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature|language=en}} During development workshops for the show, Doodson asked Norris to write some poetic monologues to help transition between songs. These segments became a defining part of the show's tone and character, and were gradually woven throughout the production.
Production history
= Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2017) =
The premiere season of The Choir of Man was at the Assembly Music Hall in August 2017. The original cast included John Sheehy, Aidan Banyard, Mark Loveday, Tom Brandon, Jami Reid-Quarrell, Ben Norris, Freddie Huddleston, Peter Lawrence and Andrew Carter. This version did not include the role of a virtuoso pianist.
= Adelaide Fringe Festival (2018) =
Taking place at the Adelaide Fringe Festival's Gluttony site in the Flamingo tent, The Choir of Man 's second outing had a few changes of repertoire, new monologues, and with the addition of Connor Going to the cast, was the debut of the virtuoso pianist role. In Week 2 of the festival, the show won the Bank SA "Best Music" award.{{Cite web|title=BANKSA WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS - WEEK 2 {{!}} Adelaide Fringe - 18 February - 20 March 2022|url=https://adelaidefringe.com.au/news/banksa-weekly-award-winners-week-2|access-date=2021-09-30|website=adelaidefringe.com.au|language=en}} At the end of the season, it won the Bank SA overall "Pick of the Fringe" award.{{Cite web|title=OUR AMAZING 2018 BANKSA FRINGE AWARD WINNERS {{!}} Adelaide Fringe - 18 February - 20 March 2022|url=https://adelaidefringe.com.au/news/our-amazing-2018-banksa-fringe-award-winners-16feb19march|access-date=2021-09-30|website=adelaidefringe.com.au|language=en}}
= West End (2021-2025) =
The Choir of Man made its West End debut at the Arts Theatre on 29 October 2021,{{Cite web |date=2021-09-09 |title=The Choir Of Man West End - The Choir Of Man Musical London |url=https://britishtheatre.com/the-choir-of-man-comes-to-the-arts-theatre-from-29-october/ |access-date=2021-09-29 |website=British Theatre |language=en-GB}} with the run later extended due to popular demand.{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Sophie |date=2021-11-30 |title='The Choir of Man' extends West End booking period |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/the-choir-of-man-extends-west-end-booking-period |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=London Theatre |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Limited |first=London Theatre Direct |date=2021-11-30 |title=The Choir of Man extends West End run |url=https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/the-choir-of-man-extends-west-end-run |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=London Theatre Direct |language=en}} After receiving a nomination for the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play in 2022,{{Cite web |title=Olivier Awards 2022 |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2022/ |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=Olivier Awards |language=en-GB}} the show announced it would be returning to the Arts Theatre in October 2022.{{Cite web |last=Wild |first=Stephi |title=THE CHOIR OF MAN Will Return to the Arts Theatre, London in Autumn 2022 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/THE-CHOIR-OF-MAN-Will-Return-to-the-Arts-Theatre-London-in-Autumn-2022-20220325 |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Sophie |date=2022-03-25 |title='The Choir of Man' to return to Arts Theatre |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/the-choir-of-man-to-return-to-arts-theatre |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=London Theatre |language=en}}
The show closed on 31 December 2024 due to planned renovations to the Arts Theatre shortly after.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-02 |title=The Choir of Man sets closing date as the venue plans 'major redevelopment' |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/the-choir-of-man-sets-closing-date-as-the-venue-plans-major-redevelopment_1635997/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |language=en-US}}
With the reopening of the Arts Theatre, The Choir of Man has returned to the West End, having their opening night on 12th March 2025. The current cast includes: Jason Brock as ‘Romantic’, Benji Lord as ‘Joker’, David Booth as ‘Pub Bore’, Paul McArthur as ‘Poet’, Oliver Jacobson as ‘Barman’ and Alex Mallalieu and Toby Francis as swings. They join pub regulars Rob Godfrey as ‘Beast’, Ifan Gwilym-Jones as ‘Maestro’, George Knapper as ‘Handyman’ with Bradley Walwyn as ‘Hardman’. David Shute and Tom Carter-Miles both return as swings. {{Cite web |date=2025-03-05 |title=NEWS: New West End Company Announced for The Choir of Man |url=https://lovelondonloveculture.com/2025/03/05/news-new-west-end-company-announced-for-the-choir-of-man/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Love London Love Culture |language=en-GB}} File:Choir of Man signage at the Arts Theatre, 2021.jpg
Norwegian Cruise Lines
After its success at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Choir of Man was licensed for performance at sea by Norwegian Cruise Line, making its debut on the Norwegian Escape in 2018, and subsequently opening on board the brand new Norwegian Encore in 2019.{{Cite web |title=The Choir of Man on NCL |url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=4782 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=www.cruisecritic.com |language=en-us}} During the COVID-19 pandemic whilst theatres and cruise lines around the world were shut down,{{Cite web |title=Cruise ship industry announces worldwide shutdown in response to coronavirus pandemic, leaving ship workers in the lurch |url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/16/crus-m16.html |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=World Socialist Web Site |date=16 March 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-12-16 |title='Hanging on by our fingertips': theatres fear Omicron's impact on festive season |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/dec/16/theatres-omicron-impact-covid |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} the show's cast filmed a special "Live From London" performance in the empty Garrick Theatre, for NCL's EMBARK series.{{Cite web |title=Embark Spotlights {{!}} The Choir Of Man |url=https://www.ncl.com/uk/en/embark-series/video/the-choir-of-man |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=www.ncl.com}}{{Cite web |title=The show must go on for Norwegian Cruise Line's 'Choir of Man': Travel Weekly |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/The-show-must-go-on-for-Norwegian-Choir-of-Man |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=www.travelweekly.com |language=en}} This hour long special featured interviews with cast members cut into a socially-distanced concert performance of songs from the show, performed on the empty Garrick stage.
References
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