The Choir of Man is a rollicking, feel-good musical full of colourful characters and unforgettable songs, set within a traditional British pub where you, the audience, are invited to join in the fun. Jason Brock, who plays Romantic sits down with London Box Office to hear what he loves about the show and why you should check it out.
Jason Brock. Headshot provided by production.
For those who aren’t familiar with the story, can you tell us what The Choir of Man is about?
Sure, I’ll try my best. The Choir of Man is about nine guys in their local pub, each having their own special role in their friendship. We have the:
- Bore. He’s the smartly dressed guy who loves to tell you boring stories, but you love him for it.
- Romantic. He’s the one who is always falling in love, wearing his heart on his sleeve.
- Beast. He’s the big/giant guy who hardly says a word, but is as cuddly as a teddy bear.
- Maestro. He’s the piano lover, the dad of the group who loves to play and drink his beer.
- Barman. He’s the owner of the pub, making sure all the lads have their drinks, having a good time and at the same time making sure we are all being good.
- Handyman. He’s the guy you can call when you have a problem with anything, in the house, in the car, he knows it all.
- Joker. He’s the guy who is the life of the party. Likes to have a joke or two.
- Poet. He’s the guy who cares for us all, kind of like a lovely auntie.
- Hardman. He’s the tough guy who never really says a lot, but when he does, you’ll definitely listen.
And we are a choir, singing known songs that get us through our day. And we would like you to join in and sing, dance, laugh, and cry with us.
Tell us about your character, Romantic. What’s been the best part about playing him?
The best part of playing Romantic is all of it. I genuinely feel like this part was made for me. Like, I am Romantic. How he has his heart on his sleeve, in and out of love, singing all the high notes, that is me! And it’s such a joy to play him.
A big appeal of the show is its immersive elements and audience participation. As an actor, how have you found having the audience so close to the action?
I won’t lie, I am a very shy guy, and I can come across as very socially awkward. I don’t mean to be, but that’s me. So when I joined the show and was told about the audience participation, I was a little nervous, but after the first few shows, you kind of get used to it and in general, find that people are very excited to talk to you and they may just do all of the talking. So if you ever see me, come and say ‘hi’.
While laughter and good vibes are a big part of the show, it also carries an important message about men’s mental health. Could you tell us your thoughts on this message and the part it plays in the story?
Absolutely! Since I came into this world, growing up as a male, I was always led to believe that men were supposed to be a certain way. Like, not showing your feelings that someone else could see as a weakness, such as crying, being down, and also being straight. And as a mixed race gay male, that way of life just wasn’t going to work for me and that can lead to a lot of poor mental health. So growing up, school was hard because I felt like I was the only one who wasn’t going by these rules. Anyway, with The Choir of Man, these rules do not exist! And I’m free to be me, I am loved for being me and for anyone else who would like to come to the Jungle is welcome, come with love and compassion for your fellow person.
What’s your favourite musical number from the show?
Hard to say, I really enjoy them all, but if I were to choose one… I’d say… ‘Somebody to Love!’
What’s been your favourite part of the show and what are you most excited for audiences to experience?
I’d say my favourite part of the show is the opening. I love giving that explosion of energy, and you’ll get to see us all play our parts for the first time, try and work out who is who. And I get to do a lot of dancing around.
If you could play any other character in the show, who would you like to play and why?
Another hard question. As I said, Romantic is a song I feel like it was written for me. To be sung by anyone else - hmm, I’m not sure? I’d say, maybe Barman, maybe.
Finally, why should people come watch The Choir of Man?
Why!? Because you will sing, you will laugh! You’ll be stamping your feet and clapping your hands, maybe even shed a tear or two. It’s a brilliant show, full of energy and life. You could even grab a beer with us before we get the show going! It’s well worth the experience!
The Choir of Man is currently playing at the Arts Theatre.
