"Welcome To The Jungle"
Debuting at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, The Choir of Man has been riding the wave of success nationally and internationally ever since, and they are glad to be back in town as they proudly acknowledge Edinburgh to be the “place where it all began”.
For the month of August, the show lived at Assembly Hall but as soon as you enter every night at 8:40pm you found yourself in “The Jungle” – a pub reminiscent of your own local establishment. Everyone knows everyone.
As I stepped inside the auditorium, the stage was filled with a hoard of people crowding round a bar. I thought they were all cast, but I was wrong. Many of them were part of the audience up on stage grabbing themselves a pint - which was very well received here in the Scottish Capital.
The story centres around 9 guys and their affiliation for…no not darts or football or pool…but singing and being part of the pub’s choir.
The cast of The Choir of Man played instruments throughout the show as they performed this jukebox musical with songs such as “Chandelier” from Sia, “Pina Colada” by Rupert Holmes, “Hello” by Adele, and the Proclaimers classic that had everyone shouting and singing along “500 Miles”.
Audience interaction occurs throughout the performance with many members being invited to join the cast at the bar for a drink as they sing for, and sometimes to, them.
What The Choir of Man expertly mastered is the balance between fun, light-hearted pub culture and some very important topics – loneliness, friendship, and men’s mental health in this post-pandemic, post-lockdown time.
The show is packed with excellently executed harmonies, dance moves for days, and I left with a huge smile on my face.
So, stop by for a pint because it’s one big Happy Hour down in “The Jungle”.
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EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE
For three weeks in August, the city of Edinburgh welcomes an explosion of creative energy from around the globe. Artists and performers take to hundreds of stages all over the city, presenting shows for every taste. Venues can be anywhere, from existing theatres and concert halls to repurposed spaces like bars, parks, buses and shipping containers. The Fringe street events bring colour, excitement and vibrancy to outdoor areas, free of charge.
From big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival spans every genre of live performance, including theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children's shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events.
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