Choir Boy at Stratford East Review
The acclaimed Bristol Old Vic production transfers London-bound
Choir is one of those experiences that stay with you.
A group of people from all walks of life congregate for one common purpose – to make a harmonious noise known as music.
At the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys, a fictional American boarding school where Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play Choir Boy is set, choir for some of its members is more than an extracurricular activity, which also happens to be the school’s pride and joy. For some, it means an opportunity to worship God and prove self-worth as a ‘Drew man’; while for others - particularly first-generation college students from working class families, the chance to represent the school at competitions and the all-important graduation commencement is a scholarship lifeline.
More than a decade after its premiere at the Royal Court Theatre (where a similarly impactful coming-of-age story, John Proctor is the Villain, currently plays), the Bristol Old Vic production, directed by its artistic director Nancy Medina, transfers to Stratford East.
There’s something striking about the sole presence of the human voice in music – otherwise known as acapella. Five voices – each belonging to a member of the choir: Pharus, Bobby, AJ, JR and David – open and close the play, harmonising on a hymn-like school song that is interrupted by the sound of racial and homophobic slurs directed at the choir lead Pharus. This moment of verbal aggression opens an exploration of race, spirituality, masculinity and sexuality, through the lens of students who come of age as they navigate the ups and downs of growing up in a highly religious environment as a teen male of colour.
McCraney approaches these themes with a kind of sensitivity that eases the audience in with wholesome, relatable humour, yet effortlessly grasps attention (and breaths) when the narrative makes sharper turns. The choir boys we meet at the start of the play are naïve and playful, with a sense for quick-witted comebacks that makes their dynamic as peers believable, and their lifelong bond as brothers profound.
The discussion of difficult (perhaps, given the context of the time, taboo) topics didn’t feel at all forced, as increasing tension in their identities, relationships with family and those around them naturally turn banter into deep conversations. It is at these points when the choristers are forced to confront the reality in which they live in, and what it means to be in the intersection of Blackness, queerness and masculinity against pressurised society.
Coming into the young people’s lives from different backgrounds, Headmaster Marrow (Daon Broni) and later, the lukewarmly welcomed Mr Pendleton (Martin Turner) reveal the friction and scrutiny educators in positions of power face at a time when the education system is heavily influenced by class and race. Most remarkably, though, the titular roles, shared by Michael Ahomka-Lindsay (David), Khalid Daley (JR), Terique Jarrett (Pharus), Rabi Kondé (Bobby) and Freddie MacBruce (AJ), are developed from nuanced text into thoroughly layered characterisations. The resultant character portraits are utterly humanising, not to mention the joyous acapella noise that has the power to hold the room as one.
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The environment fostered by director Nancy Medina, co-director Tatenda Shamiso and team is admirable; from the rehearsal room where the company is given agency to engage with the play’s themes, to arriving at the playing space (a realistic school hall designed by Max Johns, with subtle, focused lighting by Nao Nagai), care and empathy are present every step of the way. This creates an open space where both cast and audience can be vulnerable, share a laugh, shed a tear, and perhaps pause to reflect on the text that feels as impactful as it was a decade ago.
See How we approached the themes of Choir Boy for detailed insight into the team's process.
Regardless of whether one has ever experienced singing in a choir, Choir Boy hits deeper than you might expect. It’s one that stays with you and hopefully inspires discussion beyond the theatre.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Choir Boy plays at Stratford East until 25 April. For more information and to book tickets, visit the venue website.
Tickets and Accessibility
🎟️ Tickets were kindly gifted with expectation of an honest, unbiased review. Views expressed are of the writer’s and do not represent those of the promoters - read our editorial policy here.
Standard tickets are priced from £10, with various concessions (including with the Royalty Scheme) and a Pay What You Can performance available.
♾️ Bright, flashing lights mounted upstage and directed towards the audience are used at the beginning and end of the play, but the sensory environment is otherwise generally calm with minimal amplified music.