The stage was set from the moment you walked into the theatre, with the audience invited into The Jungle pub – the setting for the show – and even encouraged to enjoy a drink and a chat with the cast before the action began.

From then on, it was clear this was going to be a little different. The talented cast delivered an unforgettable evening of entertainment, blending all-out fun, laughter and singalongs with moments that were surprisingly poignant and thought-provoking.

Sam Ebenezer, as the Poet, brilliantly kicked things off and held the show together effortlessly throughout, introducing a cast of characters we can all recognise, from the Bore to the Joker, while Rob Godfrey’s guitar-playing Beast and Joshua Lloyd’s wonderfully rambunctious Barman were particular highlights.

What followed was a riotous celebration of the great British pub – the hub of so many communities – and the importance of human connection in an increasingly digital, isolated world.

With audience participation, drinks on-stage again during the interval and plenty of infectious energy, the whole evening felt less like a conventional theatre visit and more like a night in the pub with friends, including friends you hadn’t met yet. Just like the real thing.

Finishing on a touching note, The Choir of Man leaves you entertained, uplifted and perhaps thinking a little differently about what our pubs mean to us. A little sad to think they are closing in record numbers year-on-year.

It’s easy to see why this has become such a hit. It’s the kind of show you could happily see again and again.

The Choir of Man runs at Hall for Cornwall until Saturday 12 September 2026. Tickets are still available from Hall for Cornwall.

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