REVIEW: The Choir of Man at Opera House Manchester – A Joyful Celebration Of Friendship, Music & Community

May 18
6 min read

Men energetically perform with instruments in a pub. A guitar is prominent. Chairs and lights hang mid-air. Emotive, lively ambiance. "The Choir of Man" text.

The Choir of Man Review – A Fun and Unique Theatre Trip to Manchester Opera House

On Friday 8th May, I headed into Manchester with my parents to see the 4pm performance of The Choir of Man at the Opera House Manchester.

I got the tram into St Peter’s Square where I met up with my mum and dad before heading for lunch at Bishopsgate Table Table.

My mum and I both ordered the smothered chicken and chips with garlic bread, whilst my dad went for the steak.

After lunch, we made our way over to the theatre, arriving at around 3:15pm.

Even outside the theatre, there already felt like there was a real buzz surrounding the show, with plenty of people arriving early and chatting excitedly before doors opened.

Theater entrance with "The Choir of Man" posters. Sign reads 'The Ultimate Feel Good Show'. People queued outside, marquee lit, daytime.

Arriving at Manchester Opera House for The Choir of Man

Before heading into the auditorium, I stopped to look at the cast list displayed on the TV screens near the box office before naturally making my way over to the merchandise stand.

There was quite a good range of merchandise available including:

📖 Programme – £6.50

👕 Logo T-Shirt – £30

👕 “I Sang” T-Shirt – £30

🧥 “No Judgement” Hoodie – £55

🧢 “No Judgement” Cap – £25

👜 Tote Bag – £25

📍 Pin Badge – £9

🧸 Beast Bear – £16

☕ Mug – £16

Unfortunately the magnets had already sold out by the time I arrived, which was disappointing as they are usually what I collect from shows. They would have been £10.

I did however pick up a programme before heading inside.

The Choir of Man - Merchandise display with shirts, a hoodie, and a sign reading "The Choir of Man." Notable text: "I Sang with the Choir of Man," "No Judgment Here."

Our Seats at Manchester Opera House

Once the auditorium opened at 3:30pm, we headed down towards our seats.

My parents were seated together in the stalls in Row T Seats 8 and 9, whilst I initially thought I was seated in Stalls Row F Seat 9 — only to realise I was actually in the Circle!

Although the view itself was still very good, I did find the legroom a little tight and the seats felt quite close together, meaning I felt a little squashed during the first half.

One of the most unique things about The Choir of Man is that audience members are allowed up onto the stage both before the show and during the interval.

My dad and I headed up onto the stage before the performance started to take some photos and soak up the atmosphere inside “The Jungle”, the show’s fully working on-stage pub.

Audience members could also buy drinks directly from the bar whilst on stage, which really helped blur the line between theatre and immersive experience.

Before the show started, one of the cast members also came into the Circle chatting with audience members, which immediately helped create a really relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Two people smiling with a "The Choir of Man" program in hand. Background features colorful stained glass and a wall menu with drinks.

What is The Choir of Man About?

Created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay, with musical supervision by Jack Blume, The Choir of Man first premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 before becoming an international hit with a hugely successful West End run and performances around the world.

Now touring the UK for the very first time, the Olivier-nominated production transforms the stage into a lively local pub called The Jungle, where a group of men come together through music, storytelling and friendship.

Rather than following a traditional storyline, the show focuses more on themes of community, connection, loneliness and friendship, all brought together through live music, spoken word and audience interaction.

Whilst there is plenty of humour and pub-style chaos throughout the evening, there are also several surprisingly emotional and reflective moments woven into the show.

The Choir of Man - Theater stage with people mingling in a pub set featuring colorful stained glass. Ornate interior, spotlights create a lively atmosphere.

Set Design, Music & Atmosphere

The set design is absolutely brilliant and easily one of the production’s biggest strengths.

The Jungle genuinely feels like a real pub rather than a theatre set, helping audiences feel immediately immersed in the world of the show from the moment they walk into the auditorium.

From beer mats flying through the audience to cast members casually pouring pints behind the bar, the entire production feels lively, welcoming and full of energy.

Musically, the show is an absolute crowd-pleaser.

Featuring songs from artists including Queen, Katy Perry, Sia and Paul Simon, the arrangements feel fresh and exciting whilst showcasing the cast’s incredible harmonies.

The choreography throughout is energetic and inventive, blending tap dancing, live instruments and clever movement seamlessly together.

The first act lasted around an hour before a 20-minute interval.

During the interval, audience members were once again allowed back up onto the stage whilst the cast encouraged everyone to sing and dance along to performances including “The Wild Rover” and Livin' on a Prayer.

Although I didn’t head back up onto the stage during the break, I did move seats and joined my parents in the stalls where there happened to be a spare seat next to them in Row T Seat 7.

I actually enjoyed the second half much more from this seat as the extra legroom made things much more comfortable, and the atmosphere in the stalls felt much more immersive.

With cast members regularly moving through the audience and bringing people up onto the stage during the performance itself, it really felt like you became part of the experience.

The second act lasted approximately 40 minutes, with the show finishing at around 6pm.

Woman in red dress holds "Choir of Man" program on stage. Theater audience is visible in the ornate venue. Warm lighting creates a lively mood.

Performances

The cast of The Choir of Man are genuinely exceptional and the chemistry between them feels completely authentic throughout.

Oluwalonimi Owoyemi is outstanding as the Poet, delivering the show’s spoken word narration with warmth, sincerity and emotional depth.

Gustav Melbardis brings huge energy to the stage as Maestro, whilst Rob Godfrey delivers some wonderfully intimate musical moments throughout the evening.

Every cast member gets their own opportunity to shine and it is impossible not to be impressed by just how multi-talented they all are.

Not only do they sing brilliantly, but they also play instruments, dance, tap dance and interact effortlessly with the audience throughout the performance.

More importantly though, the camaraderie between the cast feels completely genuine, and that real sense of friendship becomes the emotional heart of the production.

The Choir of Man - Ten people sing on stage in front of a colorful bar backdrop with signs for "Brandy," "Wines," and more. Some sit, some stand, arms linked.

Lawrence’s Evening Performance Experience

After the show finished, I had to rush home so that Lawrence could head back into Manchester to see the evening performance which started at 8pm.

Lawrence was seated in the stalls in Row B Seat 9 and said he had an excellent view with plenty of legroom.

He also headed up onto the stage both before the show and during the interval, getting some lovely photos with members of the cast whilst joining in with the singing and dancing during the interval performances.

Hearing how much Lawrence enjoyed the evening performance honestly made us both even more excited for the show’s upcoming run at The Lowry later this year.

The Choir of Man - Two men smiling for a selfie in front of a red door with floral wallpaper. A painting of a dog in a suit is visible in the background.

Final Thoughts on The Choir of Man

The Choir of Man is unlike any traditional musical theatre experience I’ve seen before.

It feels far more like spending the evening inside a lively local pub with live music, audience interaction and a huge sense of community running throughout.

Whilst the show is packed with humour, singalongs and high-energy performances, it also carries a genuinely heartfelt message about friendship, connection and looking out for one another.

The immersive atmosphere, incredible musical talent and infectious energy of the cast make it almost impossible not to get swept up in the spirit of The Jungle.

Warm, lively and packed with personality, The Choir of Man delivers a wonderfully feel-good theatre experience from start to finish.

Packed with heart, harmony and plenty of pub spirit, The Choir of Man is feel-good theatre worth raising a glass to.

Further Information & Tour Dates

The Choir of Man will be at The Lowry from 13th – 17th October 2026.

Tickets are available to purchase through The Lowry website.

For more information about the show, including future tour dates, visit the official The Choir of Man tour website.

If you’d like to read my more theatre-focused review, you can also head over to All About Theatre.

🎥 Watch Our Visit in Weekly Vlog #450

If you’d like to see what we got up to during our visit to see The Choir Of Man, you can watch it in Weekly Vlog #452 below. Our trip to the show begins at 22:04 in the video, although the vlog also includes some other family moments from our week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYHUmrmOENs