Sam Ebenezer (The Choir of Man UK and Ireland Tour)

As the incredible cast of The Choir of Man open the doors to their pub 'The Jungle' on the first ever UK and Ireland Tour, we caught up with Sam Ebenezer who is currently swing to discuss the show's powerful themes of community and men's mental health, the unique challenges of covering multiple roles and why audiences across the country continue to raise a glass to this feel-good theatrical phenomenon.

Q) Hi Sam - thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today. Before we begin, please could you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about The Choir of Man?

Hello, I’m Sam, and I’m one of the swings in The Choir of Man for the UK and Ireland Tour 2026. The Choir of Man is a show all about 9 friends who spend their time in the pub. There are many reasons people gather together in a pub, but these 9 come together to sing in a choir, so there is plenty of singing in our pub, ‘The Jungle’. There is no story as such in the show, but we get to know these 9 characters throughout the show and there are many themes discussed throughout, including community, men’s mental health and the importance of pubs for our communities. The show includes a wide range of songs, from Sia to Queen, from Guns and Roses to Luther Vandross, so there really is a song for everyone in this show.

Q) This is the first UK and Ireland tour of The Choir of Man after a successful stint in London’s West End. Has the show evolved since the run at The Arts?

‘The Jungle’ has been a traveling pub for many years, as well as being in London for over 4 years, we have been in Edinburgh, Chicago, Sydney, Shanghai to name a few, and have toured all over the world, including Europe and USA, so now we are absolutely ecstatic to be taking this show around the UK and Ireland.

The show has some new additions since we left the Arts Theatre in Leicester Square, including an interval, which means another opportunity to come on stage and grab a pint with us. 

Q) You are one of the incredible swings - can you tell us a little bit more about your role as a swing? Does a swing’s role present any different challenges or opportunities on a tour as opposed to on a West End Stage?

So I cover 4 roles in the show, Poet, Maestro, Romantic and Joker. Every role brings something different to the show, which is what makes swinging this show so exciting, and every time we go on we get to exercise different skill sets, vocal ranges, instruments and harmonies.

Swinging this show can be a challenge wherever you are performing, but there are a couple of additional challenges on tour. As we travel from venue to venue, each stage is a different size, each auditorium layout is different so there are always small things to adapt each week, so it’s essential to be switched on at the start of the week and make sure you keep an eye on all your roles. 

Q) Rather than following a linear storyline, The Choir of Man explores different character types with a reflection on the performers and their sense of belonging. How does it feel to be yourself on stage as opposed to a character?

The beauty and difficulty of this show is finding the balance between being yourself but also playing a character/archetype. And this is why I love being a swing, because I can apply different parts of my personality to each role. Whether that’s the energy and tomfoolery of the Joker, compassion of the Romantic or the passion of the Poet, each character is a version of me.

Q) Do you have a favourite ‘character’ to swing on for? If so, why?

This is an impossible question to answer as every character has different positives. Poet will always have a soft spot in my heart after playing the role for 6 months at The Arts Theatre, but I think the Joker is currently a very close second. There aren’t many roles that you have as much freedom as Joker to mess around and push boundaries, as well as playing such a wide range of instruments. 

Q) How has the audience response been so far on the tour - have any particular venues stood out?

As a Welshman, Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff was pretty special and a theatre I have always wanted to perform at. We are now a quarter of the way through the tour and if every venue for the rest of the tour is like the first 10, we are going to have a fantastic year. 

Q) At each venue, a local choir has the opportunity to sing with the cast, which is a lovely way of creating a sense of belonging. Why do you think local choirs are so vital in our communities?

This is one of my highlights of the week. As the Music Captain of the tour, I am very fortunate to be the person who conducts the local choir as we travel the length and depth of the country. On the opening night of each venue, we sing one of the songs from the show with local choirs, and it is a really special moment.

Music is an escapism for many people, which I’m sure many of the choristers we have met so far will agree, and it is an incredible way for us all to connect together. It’s a fantastic way to forget your troubles for a moment, to get together with people who are likeminded and share similar passions to you.

Q) Community is one of the show’s main themes alongside men’s mental health. Can you discuss why you think these themes are so important and why you think they are successfully explored in shows like The Choir of Man?

Unfortunately, men’s mental health is still a huge problem in the UK, and all over the world, which is why it is so important to be discussing some of the themes that we do in this show. Our partnership with the charity CALM is incredibly important too, to help spread awareness and start a conversation.

I have had so many incredible interactions with audience members over the years, and it’s special that The Choir of Man has helped so many people after they leave the theatre. Whether it’s being affected by grief after losing a parent or being able to now start a conversation with your partner that CALM saved your life, every story confirms that this show is doing a lot of healing in the world, and to be a small part of that journey is a privilege. 

Having a community or a safe space is incredibly important. 'The Jungle' is a safe space and an escapism for us all, so come and join us for a pint and a sing song whenever you want. 

Q) Some fun questions to finish off - what song would you add to the show if you could?

This is something I think about a lot. I think a great alternative to ‘Hello’ by Adele, the Romantic should sing ‘Alone’ by Heart.

Q) What’s one character type that you think is missing from 'The Jungle'?

I think there’s one character that we have all seen in our local pub, and that is the older gentleman who sits in the corner, in the same seat, drinking from his own personal tankard, who usually leaves his change on the bar/on the table next to him ready to order his next drink.

I’m not sure how he’d fit into the show, maybe he would have a beautiful tenor voice and he would have his own ballad near the end of the show, or he could lead Parting Glass. 

Q) What can audiences expect and why should audiences come along?

If you like a drink and a sing song, then this show is right up your street, there is a wide range of songs from various genres, so there really is a song for everyone. 9 incredibly talented performers who sing in harmony, performing a cappella or play over a dozen instruments. And if that doesn’t sell it enough, then you can have a pint on stage from our onstage working bar, what more could you want. 

The Choir of Man is visiting venues around the UK and Ireland up until Saturday 05th December - for more dates and venues with ticket links, you can find more information on the link here.

Photography by Mark Senior