"The Choir Of Man" by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

Here's a musical that I've been waiting to see since the announcement of its' creation back in 2017 where it premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Featuring hits from the likes of Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry to name but a few, this uplifting celebration of community and friendship offers something for everyone.  The cast of nine (extra)ordinary guys combine beautiful harmonies and foot-stomping singalongs with world-class tap dance and soulful storytelling. 

Like so many of musicals just recently. this is an ensemble piece, with the actors playing instruments as well as singing, dancing and acting. This is one such musical with a cast that work so wonderfully together it's almost as if they are all from the same community and go to the same pub to drink, dance and sing. This friendship on stage is no feat of acting, they all come across as great friends, sharing comical asides and playing with the audience to amuse the rest of the cast.

The cast are as follows.....

Rob Godfrey (Beast), Joshua Lloyd (Barman), Ben Mabberley (Joker), Gustav Melbardis (Maestro), Oluwalonimi Owoyemi (Poet), Aaron Pottenger (Bore), Jack Skelton (Handyman), Levi Tyrell Johnson (Hard Man), Sam Walter (Romantic). Swing consist of Neil Woodson, Lewis Dragisic, Sam Ebeneezer and Jared Leathwood.

Set inside The Jungle, a  public house where these men share everything from women troubles to loss and happiness; a place where you could never imagine a disagreement or fight to break out. A pub of the old variety and feel, warmly decorated with a piano and a big old bar which tenders real beer; beer that is free for everyone in the theatre to partake of just by going up on stage. Free beer always tastes nicer, and my beer tasted like the best pint ever!

The cast were not resigned to just being on stage either as they ventured into the audience, getting people up on stage for a dance, a singsong, or even just a free drink. It was like the best lock in at the best party night ever. This was not just a stage production, this was an experience that will never be forgotten with a whole bunch of new best friends.

All individually were introduced to us, and we were told all about them and where they came from, just as if you were being introduced at a get together. Every one took the spotlight during the night, and they all played instruments on stage, and what a glorious sound they all made when singing together, sometimes with full musical backing, and other times accapella, so sincere and heartfelt that you could have heard a pin drop on the carpet.

So many stompers like "Living On A Prayer" and "Welcome To The Jungle", plus a plethora of jaunty Celtic tunes and gorgeous versions of "Dance With My Father" and "Chandelier", both of which would bring a tear to a glass eye. They injected humour into another of my favourite songs "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" and the most amazing tap routine to Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover". There really is something for everyone in this two hour long party on (and off) stage. I have never seen an audience react in the way that Tuesday night's audience reacted; they were totally under the spell of every one of these nine performers.

Before the end of the show though we were treated to another very special performance. Every venue The Choir Of Man visits, they get together five local choirs to perform with them. The combined choirs and the cast performed a version of Sia's "Chandelier" in an almost flash mob kind of performance, except we knew what was going to happen, so there was no surprise, just a very special and powerful ending to one of the best evenings I have experienced in a theatre.

Every performance is guaranteed to be different at every performance, and that is primarily down to the audience and the cast's reactions to the audience. Beer and drinks are handed out to audience members and packets of crisps are thrown into the audience by the cast to make sure that everyone haves a good time down at their very welcoming pub.

Directed by Nic Doodson, this show is one that I have never seen the likes of in my life. Nic makes sure that everyone on and off stage have the best time of their lives, giving the audience an experience never to be forgotten.

Musical supervision, vocal arrangements and orchestrations by Jack Blume with Musical Director being Ehsaan Shivarani. I love the way that every cast member played the instruments live, some even playing several instruments throughout the show.

Movement direction and choreography by Freddie Huddleston. Here's another fabulous piece of this show, the choreography. There's no fancy choreography, just party, fun moves which are wonderfully performed and show just what an incredible time these blokes have every night. Of course, the exception is that amazing, seemingly effortless, tap routine.

Monologues written by local celebrity Ben Norris. Some people may recognise Ben's voice, not from this production as we don't hear it, but from The Archers, voicing Ben Archer, which coincidentally was at the Royal Concert Hall one the same night as this opening night. The monologues are gorgeous and have the ability to create tears of laughter as well as emotional tears.

Scenic design by Oli Townsend. I've previously mentioned what a great set design this show has; it really is just like walking into a country pub from a few decades ago. Warm, welcoming and vibrant. A long bar, piano, tables, stools, pictures on the walls, coat racks, everything.

Lighting design by Richard Dinnen. This is a production that doesn't need any fancy light designs, but the designs that you see compliment everything that is seen on stage.

Sound design by Sten Severson. The combined sound of the musical instruments played live and the powerful vocals rattle your rib cage, and that is how I like it. I love to feel the power of music physically, so this was just perfect for me.

Costume design and co-scenic design by Verity Sadler.

This is feel-good, foot-stomping entertainment so good you’ll want to come back and see it again and again. All this and free beer, what more could a man (or woman) want from a night out?

"The Choir Of Man" can be seen and heard at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 13 June.