I think it’s safe to say that the vocals were definitely in the room for Choir Boy at Stratford East. And so were the gazillion goosebumps on everyone’s arms as five talented young men sang their hearts and souls out for their high school choir.
I’ve always wanted to see Choir Boy ever since I saw the trailer for it at Bristol Old Vic, but like many Londoners, travelling out of London can feel a bit long, sorry! So when I heard that this award-winning play was transferring to Stratford East, I couldn’t wait to watch.
Written by the talented Tarell Alvin McCraney and directed by Nancy Medina, Choir Boy tells the story of five older teenage American boys who, for different reasons, are part of their school choir. This is one of those schools you see in American high school films, full of traditions and strong allegiances to legacy and fraternities. These traditions are often respected more than the boys themselves.
The choir is led by Pharus (Terique Jarrett), who may appear sweet but is also sharp, bold, and often misunderstood. He is openly queer and constantly faces abuse because of it, but his love for singing never wavers. He is determined to sing and praise the Lord no matter what.
David (Michael Ahomka-Lindsay) aspires to be a pastor, but with family financial struggles, slipping grades, and secrets he fears could bring him shame, he is forced to learn the hard way that what is done in the dark eventually comes to light.
Then there’s JR (Khalid Daley), Pharus’ roommate, a loyal friend, talented singer, and aspiring athlete.
AJ (Freddie MacBruce), the headmaster’s nephew, carries the weight of his family’s fraternity legacy. But the pressure of always needing to make his family proud begins to take its toll. With deep, unspoken grief and frustration, he lashes out, bullying others and pushing away those who care about him.
Bobby (Rabi Kondé) often feels like a shadow, following behind AJ, but is clearly conflicted between right and wrong. He finds himself in emotional turmoil as injustice becomes constant within the choir.
With themes of sexuality, homophobia, tradition, and rigid rules dominating choir rehearsals, alongside the introduction of an unexpected extracurricular class led by Mr Pendleton (Martin Turner), an older, slightly racist white outsider, tensions rise and emotions overflow, causing the choir to suffer. Will they make it to graduation, let alone perform at the ceremony?
I loved this play. It was smooth, moving, and engaging. It explored themes we don’t often see on stage: faith, sexuality, and young Black men expressing themselves through music. It felt like a real privilege to be a fly on the wall in the choirboys’ rehearsals and lives.
The acting across the board was brilliant, and the vocals were stunning. I felt every emotion and frustration from each character. You could tell they had fully embodied their roles, as everything felt so believable, and the chemistry between the boys was magnetic.
I have to give Terique Jarrett his flowers. He did an exceptional job bringing Pharus to life. He wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable, and it showed beautifully on stage.
Every song was powerful and moving. Singing a cappella throughout, with that level of raw emotion, is no easy task, and I found myself wanting more after every song. One standout moment was when David was asked to pray and all the boys drop to their knees. As he begins to sing his prayer, it really touched my heart. As a believer, I know that sometimes when you don’t have the words to pray, you let your heart sing, and that was captured so beautifully on stage.
There’s a reason why Choir Boy is award-winning; it’s brilliant. It’s moving, beautiful, funny, smooth, and raw all at once. I loved it and will definitely be rewatching. There were moments that had me in tears and others that had me laughing, everything you want from great theatre.
If you haven’t booked a ticket yet, take this as your sign. Don’t miss the chance to see one of the best plays this year.
NEED TO KNOW: Choir Boy runs until 25 April 2026 at Stratford East
Choir Boy Tarell Alvin McCraney 26 March – 25 April 2026
Related links
Choir Boy – exclusive behind-the-scenes media event
