The Choir of Man || Norton James

The Fame Reporter interviewed incredible British performer of stage and screen, Norton James starring in West End’s hot musical ‘The Choir of Man‘ as part of Brisbane Festival at the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Festival Village, Southbank, now playing from 26 September.

Olivier Award-nominated, West End acclaimed, and globally adored — hundreds of thousands of fans across four continents can’t be wrong — this is the show the whole world has been raising a glass to. Stunning harmonies and foot-stomping singalongs, brimming with hits — all with a real bar on stage. A wildly talented cast of nine (extra)ordinary guys, world-class tap dancers, slam poets, multi-instrumentalists and powerhouse singers, who serve it all, live.

Norton’s stage credits include multiple productions of The Choir of Man across Australia, the US and internationally, as well as Jersey Boys, Spamalot and Peter Pan. His film credits include Jurassic World Dominion and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

We caught up with Norton to chat about his long-standing relationship with The Choir of Man, his evolution from Swing to Resident Director, the magic of performing in a show that brings audiences into the action, and more.

Welcome to The Fame Reporter! For anyone who hasn’t experienced The Choir of Man before, how would you describe the show and the experience audiences can expect when they walk into the “best pub in the world”?
Think of the warmest local you’ve ever stumbled into, except the locals all sing, dance, play instruments and never fail to get the party started! The moment you walk in, you have the opportunity to come and join us for a drink at the bar onstage and are welcomed like you’ve been coming here for years.

For the next 75 minutes you’re not watching a show so much as you’re in one and by the end of the night the whole room’s singing along like it’s closing time on a Friday.

The show combines live music, singing, tap dancing, poetry, comedy and plenty of audience interaction. What was it about this unique combination that first attracted you to the production?
I knew from the moment I saw the first casting breakdown in 2018 I needed to be a part of this show. I’ve played guitar for my whole life and being able to use that within a show was a dream. The audience interaction, the ethos of the show and the magic we get the opportunity to make each night is like no other show I have been a part of.

Every instrument you see on stage is played live, the speeches have so much heart and resonate with audiences all over the world and there’s a few surprises thrown in there too which always bring a smile to peoples faces.

There’s such a strong sense of community and friendship at the heart of The Choir of Man. How does that camaraderie develop between the cast, both on and off stage?
It’s not manufactured, that’s the honest answer. We genuinely build true friendships just by being a part of this show, it’s a big part of the rehearsal process.

We take time to get to know each other’s stories, past and what has brought them to this point in their lives. We tour together, live together, workout together, support each other on those tough days and have those midnight debriefs in the pub.

We become a family on the road and truly some of my closest friendships have been born from doing this show.

The production features songs from artists ranging from Queen and Adele to Sia, Avicii and Katy Perry. Is there a particular song or musical moment in the show that you especially love performing?
I’d have to say “You’re the Voice.” The second those opening notes hit, you can feel the room shift especially in Australia. I have never performed in a show where the audience sings a song louder than the cast on stage.

Getting to perform an anthem like ‘You’re the voice’ to an audience full of Aussies, everyone belting it out together, that’s the kind of moment you won’t ever forget!

How do you keep the energy so high throughout the performance, particularly knowing that the audience is right there with you and the show is so interactive?
I like to think of the show as an experience, whether in the cast or an audience member you come along and you ride the wave of that show. There are so many variables and things that can change so you are constantly on your toes waiting to see what will happen next.

The audience is such an important part of our show, honestly they do half the work for us, and our Australian audiences never disappoint. We treat every show like it’s the last one we will ever do, you can’t ever just rely on muscle memory with an audience this close to you which is invigorating. Oh and caffeine, LOTS of caffeine.

The pub setting makes the audience feel like they’re part of the action rather than simply watching from their seats. What is it like performing a show where no two audiences are quite the same?
It’s the best and most terrifying part of the job. Some nights you get a rowdy crowd who want to be part of everything, other nights it’s quieter and people are hanging off every word. Both are amazing and keep us, as I mentioned before, on our toes.

Every audience will react differently but it also means it’s a show that you can come and see again and again and leave feeling like you’ve seen something brand new.

The cast are singers, musicians, dancers and performers. Did you have to develop any new skills or discover a new side of yourself for this production?
At the beginning the acapella work humbled me pretty quickly. I’d done plenty of singing but never acapella close harmony work. I’m 8 years in now and love nothing more than getting together with a group of guys and making a sound that gives you goosebumps.

There’s something really beautiful about a show that gives you the chance to learn a new skill and really push yourself.

The Choir of Man has travelled around the world and played to audiences across four continents. What do you think makes the show connect so strongly with people from such different backgrounds?
At its core the show is about connection, community, friendships, and having that special place that allows communities to thrive, from experience that’s a universal feeling shared by so many different cultures.

Good music, an inclusive space that welcomes everybody and a show that lets you escape reality and just live in that moment. What’s not to love?!

You’re bringing the show to Brisbane for its Queensland Premiere as part of Brisbane Festival. What are you most looking forward to about performing inside the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent and becoming part of the Festival Village atmosphere?
Spiegeltents have magic built into them. The stories that have been told inside those walls over the years, the intimacy, it makes the pub feel even more real.

The show started at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in an intimate space and it’s such a joy to be able to relive those moments again here in Brisbane. Add in the Festival Village and the buzz around the festival, I can’t wait to get started, a truly special place for Choir of Man’s Queensland Premiere. It’s going to be the place to be this September!

Finally, if you could invite someone to The Choir of Man using just three words, what would they be and why should Brisbane audiences raise a glass and come along?
‘You’ll thank me’

Whatever you think a night at the theatre looks like, this is something new and for everyone. Be the first people to experience it in Queensland and become a local by the end of the night.