There are theatre shows you watch, and then there are shows that make you feel like you’ve been invited to the best pub night of your life. The Choir of Man is very much the latter.
The Olivier Award-nominated, West End-acclaimed production has arrived at Brisbane Festival’s Magic Spiegeltent at South Bank, and from the moment you walk inside, it’s clear this isn’t going to be a traditional night at the theatre.
The Spiegeltent itself is an incredible venue, but The Choir of Man takes the experience to another level by transforming the space into a real-life working pub. There’s an actual bar on stage, and audience members can head up before the show to enjoy a complimentary beer. It’s an ingenious way to immediately break down the fourth wall — and that immersive feeling continues for the entire 75 minutes.
In fact, this may be the most audience interaction I’ve ever experienced in a live show. The performers don’t simply acknowledge the audience; they actively bring us into their world. The stage, the seating area and the pub atmosphere all seem to merge together, creating the feeling that you’re not watching a performance about a group of mates in a pub — you’re actually in the pub with the, and then the show begins.
What follows is 75 minutes of infectious energy, joy, comedy, incredible vocals and sheer entertainment.
The international touring cast, all UK performers, are an exceptionally charismatic bunch. The current cast features Ifan Gwilym-Jones as Maestro, Norton James as Swing & Resident Director, Cal T King as Beast, George Knapper as Handyman, Mark Loveday as Barman, Alex Mallalieu as Swing, Paul McArthur as Poet, Conor Mellor as Joker, Kristian Morse as The Hard Man, Tyler Orphe-Baker as Bore, Bradley Walwyn as Swing and Tristan Whincup as Romantic.
Every performer brings something different to the pub, with their personalities and individual talents shining through. Whether it’s the singers, comedians, poets or musicians, there’s a constant sense that you never quite know what’s coming next.
Musically, the show is seriously impressive. The cast are extraordinary vocalists, with harmonies and a cappella moments that are genuinely unreal. But they’re also backed by an impressive array of instruments, including banjo, piano, guitar, trumpet and more. The combination creates a wonderfully organic sound that feels less like a polished concert and more like being surrounded by incredibly talented musicians in your favourite local pub.
The soundtrack is packed with songs everyone knows. From the opening energy of ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, the show moves through an eclectic mix including ‘Save Tonight / Wake Me Up’, ‘Teenage Dream’, ‘The Impossible Dream’, ’50 Ways to Leave Your Lover’, Adele’s ‘Hello’, ‘Escape (The Piña Colada Song)’, ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’, ‘Under the Bridge’, ‘Chandelier’, ‘Somebody to Love’, John Farnham’s ‘You’re the Voice’, ‘Some Nights’ and ‘The Parting Glass’ to name a few.
These aren’t songs designed for audiences to sit quietly and admire. They’re songs you recognise, songs you want to sing, and songs that make the entire room feel connected.
Then there are the moments you simply have to see to believe. Tap dancing on the bar. Slam poetry. Cup choreography. Incredible vocal arrangements. Audience members being pulled into the action. Moments of comedy that feel spontaneous. The performers use the entire pub environment as part of the show, turning ordinary objects and spaces into instruments, stages and sources of entertainment.
The cup choreography in particular is one of those wonderfully unexpected moments that perfectly captures what makes The Choir of Man so much fun. It’s clever, rhythmic and completely ridiculous in the best possible way.
There is a mini story running underneath it all, introducing different personalities within this group of men, but the production wisely doesn’t go too heavily into character development. At just 75 minutes, it doesn’t need to. The story gives the performance enough heart and structure without taking away from what the audience has really come for: the music, the comedy, the atmosphere and the party.
What an atmosphere it is. By the end, the Magic Spiegeltent genuinely feels like a pub packed with friends rather than a theatre filled with strangers. The performers’ charisma, the live musicianship, the familiar songs and the constant audience interaction create an incredibly immersive experience.
The Choir of Man_ doesn’t just break the fourth wall — it practically removes the walls altogether.
It’s energetic, hilarious, wonderfully chaotic and packed with ridiculously talented performers. Most importantly, it’s joyful. You leave feeling like you’ve just spent 75 minutes drinking, singing and laughing with a group of very talented mates — even if you only had the one complimentary beer.
For anyone looking for a theatre experience that is immersive, interactive and completely different from the usual night out, The Choir of Man is an absolute must-see at Brisbane Festival.
Come for the beer. Stay for the harmonies. Leave singing 500 Miles.
TICKETS
Now Playing until 26 September at
Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent – Festival Village
All images supplied
The Fame Reporter 