Cambridge Arts Theatre – until Saturday 4th April 2026
Reviewed by Steph Lott
5*****
I’ll be honest with you: I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect walking into Cambridge Arts Theatre last night. A show set in a pub, a cast of men singing well-known songs — it sounded fun enough, but I had no idea what a purely joyful evening of live performance it was going to be, and just how talented the men on stage were going to be.
Created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay, The Choir of Man is, on the surface, a simple concept. A pub. A group of lads. Some brilliant songs. But scratch beneath that surface and you find something genuinely moving — a show that’s really about home, companionship, community and belonging. It’s a love letter to the communal spaces we gather in, the friendships forged over shared experiences, and the universal human need to feel welcomed and known. Yes, there’s beer — quite a lot of it, actually — but this show has a great deal of heart beneath the froth.
The songs are all familiar favourites, and Musical Supervisor, Vocal Arranger and Orchestrator Jack Blume has shaped them into something extraordinary. I found myself thinking, more than once, that several of these tracks were being performed better here than by the original artists. That’s a bold claim, I know, but the vocal skill, energy and charm this cast brings to every number simply elevates the material.
The movement, choreographed by Freddie Huddleston is inventive and thrilling throughout — but special mention must go to Jack Skelton, whose tap dancing was nothing short of superb.
Vocally, the entire cast is outstanding, but Joshua Lloyd deserves to be singled out. His voice is simply beautiful. Equally memorable was Nimi, who delivered the show’s monologues with a touching, understated charm. He had the whole audience in the palm of his hand; those quieter moments landed just as powerfully as the big musical numbers.
Gustav Melbardis proved himself a genuinely talented maestro with excellent comedic timing — his contributions drew some of the biggest laughs of the evening. And I must give a special nod to our very own local lad, Rob Godfrey, whose guitar playing kept the whole show moving with warmth and infectious energy. Cambridge claimed him proudly last night, that’s for sure.
Audience participation is woven throughout, and it’s handled with such style and charm. It never descends into something that makes you cringe and some of those who went up on stage really stole the show! By the finale, the entire house was on its feet — singing, clapping, cheering. A standing ovation that felt completely spontaneous and utterly deserved.
The Choir of Man is a joyful, generous, life-affirming blast of a show. Don’t miss it.