Full casting has been unveiled for the West End return of the international hit The Choir of Man to the Arts Theatre next month.
With previews due to begin from 1 October ahead of a press night on 13 October, the production will feature Michael Baxter (Les Misérables, 25th Anniversary tour, Gypsy, Wales Millennium Centre) as The Maestro, Ben Norris (the voice of Ben Archer in The Archers on BBC Radio 4) will return to as the Poet after making his West End debut in last year’s London premiere, with professional debuts from Levi Tyrell-Johnson as The Hardman and Owen Bolton as The Beast.
Former West End cast members Jordan Oliver (The Choir of Man, Netherlands, Australia and Korea, The Sound of Music, UK tour) and Matt Beveridge (The Choir of Man, Australia, Netherland, Titanic, Princess of Wales Toronto) will play The Handyman (Oliver) and The Romantic (Beveridge), with Lemuel Knights (The Choir of Man, USA) as The Barman, Matt Nalton (Jersey Boys, Piccadilly Theatre, Beautiful: The Carole King Story, Aldwych Theatre) as The Pub Bore and Matt Thorpe ( Jersey Boys, Piccadilly Theatre and UK tour, We Will Rock You, Dominion) as The Joker.
Completing the company are: Mark Irwin (The Choir of Man, West End, Korea, Australia, The Commitments, Palace Theatre, Sam Ebenezer (The Mousetrap, St Martin’s Theatre, Cinderella, Sunderland Empire), Gavin Ryan (West Side Story, Bord Gais Dublin, making his West End debut) and Lucas Koch (Million Dollar Quartet, Barn Theatre, also making his West End debut in the production).
Following three sell-out seasons at the Sydney Opera House and a number of successful US and European tours, the show which celebrates the appeal of the local pub and features reinventions of folk, pop, rock and Broadway classics made its West End debut in October 2021. The show ended its debut run at The Arts Theatre in April this year.
Created by the team behind hits including a cappella and beatbox show Gobsmacked, Andrew Kay (Soweto Gospel Choir, Noise Boys, and the award-winning North by Northwest) and Nic Doodson (The Magnets, Noise Boys), and featuring a nine-strong cast, the feel-good show has been described as ‘the best pub concert you’ve ever been to’.
Commenting on the production, Norris, who originated the role of The Poet and wrote the monologues for the show, said: “I’m delighted that The Choir of Man is returning to the West End, and I’m delighted to be returning with it! Watching this show grow from the charmingly ramshackle Edinburgh Fringe gamble it started life as five years ago, into the Olivier-nominated cult hit it has become has been one of the greatest privileges and surprises of my career so far, and one of the greatest joys.
“The show is so unapologetically feel-good that whatever kind of mood you arrive in at the theatre, it’s impossible not to leave with a smile on your face and a spring in your step. And that goes for the cast as well as the audience!
“Whether we’re conscious of it or not, when we meet a friend in the pub for a pint, it’s often simply the company we’re after. This is especially true, I think, for men. Although things are starting to shift, we still find it much harder to open up and to ask for help. We’re still taking our own lives at a far higher rate. The lockdowns and the helplessness of the pandemic hugely exacerbated this, and the imminent cost of living crisis will only worsen it further.
“As a male voice choir, we wanted to make a show that brings joy to people – a show that is fun and frivolous and silly and a bloody good night out, but also one that speaks to some of those difficulties we face, and that gently questions what masculinity might look like in 2022.
“Above all, we wanted to make a show that puts an arm around people, of all genders, and invites them to either forget their troubles for an evening or to share them. Sometimes it’s literally life-saving.”
Doodson directs the innovative song and dance show with musical supervision, vocal arrangements and orchestrations by Jack Blume, choreography by Freddie Huddleston, monologues written by Ben Norris, scenic design by Oli Townsend, lighting design by Richard Dinnen, costume design and associate scenic design by Verity Sadler, sound design by Sten Severson and casting by Debbie O’Brien. The musical director and associate musical supervisor is Hollie Cassar and the associate choreographer is Rachel Chapman.
The show is produced by Immersive Everywhere, Nic Doodson, Andrew Kay Andy and Wendy Barnes and AK Theatricals.
Angela Thomas
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