The Choir Of Man has built a massive following around the world by turning ordinary pub culture into something oddly emotional, and deeply joyful. Antonia Levay caught up with cast member Levi Tyrell Johnson to talk first auditions, Welsh singing traditions, rowdy audience moments and why the show hits differently in 2026.
The Choir Of Man has built a huge global fanbase. What was your first reaction when you landed the role?
I landed the role around four years ago – it was actually my first ever professional audition. I remember sitting in the canteen at the Royal Welsh College having lunch – I hadn’t even finished my final year, and suddenly finding out I was going straight into the West End, it completely blew me away. It honestly felt like a dream. And then to find out I’d basically be playing myself, using my own name, made it feel even more surreal.
For anyone who’s never seen the show before, how would you describe it?
I always describe it as the best pub night ever. It’s the type of night you wish every trip to the pub could be. All your best mates are in one place, the beer’s flowing and the good vibes never stop. There’s laughter, there’s heart-to-hearts, there’s huge singalongs, and by the end of the night everyone feels like they’ve known each other forever.
There’s such a strong sense of camaraderie onstage. Has the cast genuinely become like a family offstage too?
Absolutely. I think one of the smartest things about this show is that the creatives don’t just cast people based on talent, they cast personalities too. So when we all get in a room together, we instantly gel. It genuinely feels like an instant family. The friendships you make on this show usually last a lifetime.
Audience interaction is a huge part of the experience. Has anything particularly chaotic or memorable happened during performances?
Because of the audience interaction, every single show is unpredictable. That’s what keeps it exciting for us too – the show never gets boring because no two nights are ever the same. We’ve had rowdy guests, massive personalities, people fully committing to the atmosphere… just last night we had a 60-year-old woman do the splits in the middle of the stage. That’s the sort of thing that happens at The Choir Of Man.
The music swings from rock anthems to emotional ballads. Is there one song you especially love performing?
Definitely You’re The Voice – that’s my solo in the show and it means a lot to me. The song’s all about unity and togetherness, which feels incredibly important right now given the state of the world. It was originally written as a protest song against violence and division, and to be able to stand onstage every night singing something with that message feels really powerful.
The show feels like both an escape and a celebration of community. Why do you think audiences connect with it so strongly?
I think people connect with it because it doesn’t feel far removed from real life. It’s not set in some magical fantasy world, it’s literally about nine blokes in a pub singing about their feelings – and actually that’s really important. Especially for men. The show says it’s OK to talk, it’s OK not to be OK, and it reminds people how important community spaces are. Pubs, live music venues, places where people gather together – we’re losing a lot of those spaces. People are lonelier than ever, so I think audiences really respond to the warmth and togetherness in the show.
Wales has such a rich singing tradition. Are you excited to bring the show home to Cardiff?
Massively. This is the first ever UK tour, so getting to bring the show to my hometown feels incredibly special. The people of Cardiff absolutely love live music and singing. I come from a family of singers, the Johnsons, so performing on one of the biggest stages in Wales honestly feels like a blessing, there are three Welsh cast members in the show too, so there’ll definitely be a bit of home pride happening onstage.
The show’s set inside a pub rather than a traditional musical world. Does that change how you approach performing?
Completely. It feels far more real than a lot of theatre because it is grounded in the real world, because I’m basically playing myself, Levi! It’s probably the most truthful role I could ever play. There’s nowhere to hide in this show; it’s all about honesty and connection.
We have to ask… are you actually drinking alcohol onstage?
We had to switch to non-alcoholic beer because the hangovers were getting too intense! No, honestly, it’s all non-alcoholic for safety reasons. The amount of physical stuff we do onstage every night would be absolutely impossible if we were drinking real pints…
What’s the biggest challenge doing a show like this eight times a week?
Vocally it’s definitely demanding, but we train for that. The physical side is the real challenge. The amount of energy we burn every night is honestly unnatural. Every show feels like running a marathon… not that I’ve ever actually run a marathon.
Finally, what do you hope audiences leave feeling after The Choir Of Man?
Joyous. That’s the word. It’s actually a very simple show when you strip it back, but I genuinely don’t think a single person leaves the theatre without feeling full of joy.
QUICKFIRE SECTION
First song that gets you straight onto the dancefloor?
Any Michael Jackson song.
Best post-show takeaway?
Wingstop. Loads and loads of chicken.
Which cast member survives longest in a real pub lock-in?
Probably Gustav The Maestro – that bloke is wild. Definitely not Nimi The Poet… he falls asleep in cocktail bars.
One song you’d love added to the show?
Bohemian Rhapsody. Singing that with the lads would be incredible!
Describe The Choir Of Man in three words.
Crazy. Good. Fun.
Why should Cardiff audiences grab tickets now?
Because this show is completely one of a kind. Every single person can relate to it. And there’s a local Cardiff boy and two other Welshies in the cast too!
The Choir Of Man, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Tue 19-Sat 23 May
Tickets: £19-£78. Info: here
words ANTONIA LEVAY
