The London production will continue to play until July this year, welcoming two former members of its troupe to the West End stage. Set in a local pub where young male friends reflect about their lives to support each other, the show features live instrumentalists, singers and dancers (sometimes all combined) and a repertoire with some of the most successful pop and rock anthems of all time.
The pints keep pouring in and the talent keeps streaming down in this celebration of friendship and male camaraderie! Set in probably the most traveled pub in the entire world, The Choir of Man continues to settle its roots into the West End scene, after several extensive international tours – and, while on that, an Olivier Award nomination too. Now offering tickets until July this year, this festival of song, dance and quite a bit of stomping is also releasing today the names of the new members of its troupe, welcoming back some old acquaintances to its Jungle family.
Conor Hanley will join the company at the Arts Theatre as ‘The Poet’ on Wedenesday 1 February. Having previously performed on the 2022 US tour, as well as the Edinburgh Fringe and Coventry City of Culture productions of the show, his arrival to the London montage will also mark his West End debut. On the other hand, Daniel Harnett will also return to the musical – his previous contributions including the original West End cast and also playing on the US tour. They will be accompanied by Michael Baxter (Les Misérables – 25th Anniversary tour, Gypsy – Wales Millennium Centre) as ‘The Maestro’, Levi Tyrell-Johnson (making his professional debut in The Choir of Man), as ‘The Hard Man’, Mark Irwin (The Choir of Man West End, Korea, Australia, The Commitments – Palace Theatre) as ‘The Barman’, Owen Bolton (also making his professional debut in The Choir of Man) as ‘The Beast’, Jordan Oliver (The Choir of Man West End, Netherlands, Australia and Korea, The Sound of Music – UK Tour) as ‘The Handyman’, Matt Beveridge (The Choir of Man West End, Australia, Netherland, Titanic – Princess of Wales Toronto) as ‘The Romantic’, Matt Nalton (Jersey Boys – Piccadilly Theatre, Beautiful – Aldwych Theatre) as ‘The Pub Bore’ and Matt Thorpe (Jersey Boys – Piccadilly Theatre & UK tour, We Will Rock You – Dominion) as ‘The Joker’.
The Choir of Man has already played three sell-out seasons at the Sydney Opera House and multiple sold-out US and European tours. Following its last run at the Arts Theatre from October 2021 to April 2022, it received an Olivier nomination for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play, and then went on to perform in Coventry as part of the City of Culture Assembly Festival season and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay and directed by Nic Doodson, the musical stars a bunch of mates gathering at their local pub, reflecting about their lives through a repertoire of hits including songs by Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry.
Read our review on the show here!
All pictures credit to The Other Richard.
The Choir of Man plays at London’s Arts Theatre from Tuesday to Sunday. Tickets are available on the following link.
First Night Magazine 