The Choir of Man – Review – Bradford Alhambra Theatre
By Christine Goode, July 2026
We are in the middle of a heatwave and, in true British fashion, everyone is complaining that it is too hot. What better way to cool down than a trip to the local? So, dressed in floaty summer dresses and hoping the theatre’s air conditioning was working, my guest and I headed to our local theatre – yes, theatre – to see The Choir of Man.
I must admit, I had little idea what to expect. I had seen the show advertised locally and, by chance, spotted it while visiting London earlier this year, so I was eager to find out what all the hype was about.
We entered the auditorium – or did we? The show’s creator, producer and director, Nic Doodson, has created something truly unique and special. The stage had been transformed into a local pub, serving drinks to audience members who were invited on stage to mingle with the cast. It felt more like a big night out in a busy bar than a trip to the theatre. Loud music played, chatter and laughter filled the air, and audience members moved between their seats and the stage. The atmosphere was electric before the show had even begun and, eventually, quite naturally, as people took their seats, it started.
“Totally in awe”
Then, boom: straight into ‘Welcome to the Jungle’. It was very apt, as we now noticed that the pub’s name was The Jungle. The audience was clapping along immediately. We then got to meet the locals, an all-male group of characters introduced by Nimi the Poet through their nicknames: The Maestro, The Bore, The Handyman, The Romantic, The Beast, The Joker and The Hardman. Unusually, there is no traditional storyline or back-and-forth script between the characters, yet, as the evening unfolds, we learn about each individual through spoken word.
There is a strong focus on the camaraderie between the men, and on how simply being together in the pub can offer a few hours’ escape from the stresses of daily life – something that can be a lifeline for many. The high-octane track list spans a range of genres and reveals something about each character, with songs including ‘Save Tonight/Wake Me Up’, ‘Somebody to Love’, ‘You’re the Voice’ and ‘Dance with My Father’. It takes the audience across the full emotional spectrum, from clapping and singing along to holding back tears, then back to laughing and joking again.
The cast are incredible. Nimi Owoyemi, as The Poet, is outstanding, with an infectious smile that had me beaming throughout. I was totally in awe of his ability to recite the spoken word in such an engaging way.
“Wonderfully immersive”
Jack Skelton, as The Handyman, showed off his superb tap-dancing skills. I especially loved the way he used his beats as the rhythm of Paul Simon’s ’50 Ways to Leave Your Lover’, before exploding into a high-energy routine, tapping across the bar and tables.
Joshua Lloyd, as The Barman, was funny, charismatic and had amazing vocals, which he showed off during ‘Somebody to Love’ and ‘The Piña Colada Song’.
During the show, the cast brought willing members of the audience on stage, sang and danced with them, handed out drinks, and threw snacks into the crowd, making the whole evening feel wonderfully immersive. At the interval, we went to the bar, but on our return found that the bar had come to us, with the cast mingling with the audience yet again – some on stage, some in the stalls – encouraging everyone to sing Bon Jovi’s hit ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’.
I was truly blown away by this show and am still on cloud nine as I write this. I would readily see it again, as it is unlike anything I have seen before. Judging by the comments and loud chatter I heard as we were heading home, I am certainly not the only one. The one thing I wish for now is to have a local just like The Jungle near us permanently.
‘The Choir of Man’ is at Bradford Alhambra until 27th June
images: Mark Senior
Christine Goode founded her own dance school – The May School of Dance & Theatre Arts over three decades ago. Her dedication to teaching and love of dance, has created many successful artists in the industry, and she is delighted that many of her former students have now returned with their children, allowing them to also discover this beautiful art. She has choreographed, produced and directed shows over the last 36 years, and is devoted to all live theatre and music. Now in her third year of writing about her obsession with the arts, Christine loves to encourage everyone to see as much live theatre as possible.
maydanceschool.co.uk
