Cast News: Choir of Man UK & Ireland Tour

13-01-26

After becoming a much-loved fixture of the West End and a consistent Matinee favourite, The Choir of Man is preparing to raise a glass to its next chapter. Producers have announced full casting for the show’s first ever UK and Ireland tour, which opens at New Wimbledon Theatre on Saturday 14 March 2026, direct from the West End.

Alongside the touring announcement comes the launch of a new nationwide initiative, The Jungle Choir Community Project, inviting local choirs in every touring city to take part in opening night performances, extending the show’s core themes of connection, participation and shared music beyond the stage.

Set inside the on-stage pub known as The Jungle, The Choir of Man blends close-harmony vocals, contemporary choreography and live musicianship into a celebration of everyday voices and collective joy. Over its four-year West End run at the Arts Theatre, the production welcomed more than half a million audience members and clocked up over 1,000 performances, earning an Olivier Award nomination along the way and building a fiercely loyal following.

The UK and Ireland tour company brings together performers with deep roots in the show alongside new faces. Gustav Melbardis joins the cast as Maestro, with Oluwalonimi Owoyemi as Poet and Levi Tyrell Johnson as Hard Man. They are joined by Ben Mabberley as Joker, Rob Godfrey as Beast, Jack Skelton as Handyman, Joshua Lloyd as Barman, Sam Walter as Romantic and Aaron Pottenger as Bore. Completing the company are swings Sam Ebenezer, Jared Leathwood, Niall Woodson and Lewis Dragisic, all of whom have previously appeared in the West End production.

Musically, the show continues to draw from a wide range of popular artists, including Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns N’ Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry, reimagined through rich vocal arrangements and live performance. The result is a score that feels communal rather than polished, inviting audiences to be part of the atmosphere rather than simply observe it.

A key feature of the tour is The Jungle Choir Community Project, which will see local choirs invited to attend opening night performances and take part in the show’s final moments. Participating groups will receive rehearsal materials in advance, discounted tickets and the chance to share the stage as part of a wider celebration of local music-making. The initiative reflects the show’s long-standing emphasis on inclusivity and shared experience, and places community voices at the heart of each new tour stop. Interested choirs should email officeassistant@kennywax.com.

Creator and director Nic Doodson said the project felt like a natural extension of what the show has always stood for, explaining that every city has its own musical heartbeat and that inviting those voices into the theatre reinforces the sense of generosity and togetherness at the centre of the piece.

Since its debut, The Choir of Man has enjoyed sold-out seasons at the Sydney Opera House, extensive US and European touring, and is currently midway through its fourth North American tour. Its West End residency concludes on 4 January 2026, closing a significant chapter before the production heads out on the road.

The creative team includes musical supervision and orchestrations by Jack Blume, choreography and movement direction by Freddie Huddleston, monologues by Ben Norris, scenic design by Oli Townsend, lighting design by Richard Dinnen, costume design by Verity Sadler and casting by Debbie O’Brien. The tour is produced by HH Productions, Nic Doodson, Andrew Kay, Global Creative and Kenny Wax.

With its blend of musicianship, warmth and genuine audience connection, The Choir of Man looks set to carry the spirit of The Jungle far beyond the West End, raising a collective voice in theatres across the UK and Ireland throughout 2026.

The Choir of Man – UK & Ireland Tour 2026

Sat 14 – Sat 21 Mar — Wimbledon, New Wimbledon Theatre
Tue 24 – Sat 28 Mar — Bath, Theatre Royal
Tue 31 Mar – Sat 4 Apr — Cambridge, Arts Theatre

Tue 7 – Sat 11 Apr — Coventry, Belgrade Theatre
Tue 14 – Sat 18 Apr — Peterborough, New Theatre
Tue 21 – Sat 25 Apr — Brighton, Theatre Royal
Tue 28 Apr – Sat 2 May — Glasgow, King’s Theatre

Tue 5 – Sat 9 May — Manchester, Opera House
Tue 12 – Sat 16 May — Sunderland, Empire
Tue 19 – Sat 23 May — Cardiff, Wales Millennium Centre
Tue 26 – Sat 30 May — Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes Theatre

Tue 9 – Sat 13 Jun — Nottingham, Theatre Royal
Tue 16 – Sat 20 Jun — Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre
Tue 23 – Sat 27 Jun — Bradford, Alhambra Theatre
Tue 30 Jun – Sat 4 Jul — York, Grand Opera House

Tue 7 – Sat 11 Jul — Leicester, Curve
Tue 14 – Sat 18 Jul — Birmingham, The Alexandra
Tue 21 – Sat 25 Jul — Malvern, Malvern Theatres
Tue 28 Jul – Sat 1 Aug — Canterbury, Marlowe Theatre

Tue 4 – Sat 8 Aug — Colchester, Mercury Theatre
Tue 11 – Sat 15 Aug — Cheltenham, Everyman Theatre
Tue 18 – Sat 22 Aug — Chester, Storyhouse
Tue 25 – Sat 29 Aug — Richmond, Richmond Theatre

Tue 1 – Sat 5 Sep — Aylesbury, Waterside Theatre
Tue 8 – Sat 12 Sep — Truro, Hall for Cornwall
Tue 15 – Sat 19 Sep — Southend, Cliffs Pavilion
Tue 22 – Sat 26 Sep — Guildford, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Tue 29 Sep – Sat 3 Oct — Swindon, Wyvern Theatre

Tue 6 – Sat 10 Oct — Northampton, Royal & Derngate
Tue 20 – Sat 24 Oct — Wolverhampton, Grand Theatre

Tue 3 – Sat 7 Nov — Southampton, Mayflower Theatre
Tue 10 – Sat 14 Nov — Dublin, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
Tue 17 – Sat 21 Nov — Blackpool, Grand Theatre
Tue 24 – Sat 28 Nov — High Wycombe, Swan Theatre

Tue 1 – Sat 5 Dec — Edinburgh, Festival Theatre

Further dates to be announced.

Get tickets from the official site HERE