The acclaimed stage show The Choir Of Man will play the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford from 22 to 26 September, bringing its pub-room energy, tap routines and singalongs to the Surrey venue as part of the production’s UK and Ireland tour.
Pub atmosphere, big musical covers
Staged inside an on-set public house called The Jungle, the performance centres on nine men who combine tight harmonies, vigorous tap-dance sequences and storytelling. The repertoire spans a broad pop and rock palette, including songs by Queen, Adele, Paul Simon, Sia, Guns N’ Roses, Avicii and Luther Vandross, married to theatrical choreography and communal spirit.
The stage company lists principal roles as Maestro, Poet, Hard Man, Joker, Beast, Handyman, Barman, Romantic and Bore, with a group of swings on standby. The credited cast for the Yvonne Arnaud engagement includes Gustav Melbardis (Maestro), Oluwalonimi Owoyemi (Poet), Levi Tyrell Johnson (Hard Man), Ben Mabberley (Joker), Rob Godfrey (Beast), Jack Skelton (Handyman), Joshua Lloyd (Barman), Sam Walter (Romantic) and Aaron Pottenger (Bore). Swings named are Sam Ebenezer, Jared Leathwood, Niall Woodson and Lewis Dragisic.
| Role | Performer |
|---|---|
| Maestro | Gustav Melbardis |
| Poet | Oluwalonimi Owoyemi |
| Hard Man | Levi Tyrell Johnson |
| Joker | Ben Mabberley |
| Beast | Rob Godfrey |
| Handyman | Jack Skelton |
| Barman | Joshua Lloyd |
| Romantic | Sam Walter |
| Bore | Aaron Pottenger |
Community engagement on press night
Producers have extended an invitation to a local choir to take part in the show’s final moments on opening night through the Jungle Choir Community Project. The initiative aims to fold community singing directly into the performance, underscoring the production’s theme of togetherness.
“The Choir of Man has always been about individuality, generosity, humour and the joy of making music together, and this company embodies all of that. As we take the show around the UK and Ireland for the very first time, it felt vital to open the doors even wider and invite local choirs to quite literally raise their voices with us. Every city has its own musical heartbeat, and welcoming those voices into the show on press night is a powerful reminder of why this piece exists: to celebrate community, connection and the extraordinary feeling of singing together.”
The quotation is attributed to co-creator and director Nic Doodson, who co-devised the piece with Andrew Kay. The wider creative team credited on the production includes Jack Blume, Freddie Huddleston, Ben Norris, Oli Townsend, Richard Dinnen, Verity Sadler, Sten Severson and Debbie O’Brien.
What audiences can expect
Audiences should expect an informal, high-energy theatrical experience that blurs the line between concert and stage show, complete with choreographed tap numbers, crowd-friendly arrangements and the theatrical conceit of a working pub. The production is known for its convivial atmosphere and, according to promotional material, even offers complimentary beer at performances—an element that feeds into the piece’s convivial, community-focused branding.
- Dates: 22–26 September at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford.
- Creative leads: Co-creators Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay.
- Community element: Local choir to join on opening night (Jungle Choir Community Project).
Tickets are available via the theatre box office on 01483 440000 or through the Yvonne Arnaud website. For regional theatres and touring companies, initiatives that invite local participation can deepen ties between national productions and their host communities; this engagement model places community voices at the literal end of the performance, a symbolic and practical gesture that may encourage repeat theatre attendance and local arts involvement.
For fans of accessible musical theatre that leans into popular songs and theatrical showmanship, The Choir Of Man presents a night out that privileges communal joy over cutting-edge dramaturgy—an explicitly warm, audience-facing piece intent on leaving people tapping their feet as they leave the auditorium.
