Month: April 2026

🎭Choir Boy
📍Stratford East
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The story

Set in the prestigious Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys, Tarrell Alvin McCraney’s coming-of-age drama follows five young Black men as they navigate masculinity, sexuality, identity, and the pressures of belonging within a rigid, traditional institution.

The show focuses on the school’s choir lead, Pharus (Terique Jarrett), a gifted singer and young queer man who carries himself with pride. However, following an incident in which a fellow student hurls homophobic slurs at Pharus, we see his confidence falter, and the dynamics among the students shift. The characters have intense conversations, debates, and even confrontations, questioning things like their legacy, beliefs and their belonging at the school.

With gospel hymns, creative direction and thought-provoking dialogue, Choir Boy is a beautiful, candid exploration of Black queer masculinity.

My thoughts

 I must begin by applauding the flawless acapella performances by the incredible cast. With musical direction & arrangement by Femi Temowo, the cast performs gospel and spiritual hymns throughout the play. The blend of harmonies was remarkable, capturing our attention right away. Music has always been used as a way to express ourselves. In Choir Boy, I enjoyed how each character was given the space to convey their unspoken emotions, be it frustration, hurt, joy, or guilt, through movement and music.

There is a tense debate among the students about the meaning of spirituals, the songs by enslaved African Americans. The characters hold differing views on whether the music helped their ancestors find routes to freedom or if it was used as a way to survive. McCraney examines the historical and cultural significance of the spirituals and what it means to the character’s own identity and faith.

Directed by Nancy Medina, the production has a simple, wooden set design (Max Johns), with smooth transitions between the various locations within the school. This simplicity allows us to focus fully on the characters and their stories.

Terique Jarrett is superb in the role of Pharus. Jarrett showcases great comic delivery while also blessing the stage with his powerful voice. He expertly captures the duality of a young man who refuses to let bullies shrink his personality, while also portraying a vulnerable character who carries hurt, and is often in defence mode (his clapbacks were super quick!). In a scene with Headmaster Marrow (Daon Broni), Pharus’s face visibly lights up as he speaks about what the choir means to him. We see just how much singing serves as escapism for Pharus within an environment that tries to confine him. This was an interesting connection to the earlier discussion about spirituals and their meaning.

Michael Ahomka-Lindsay is a standout as David, whose vocals stunned the entire audience. His solo genuinely left me with goosebumps! Ahomka-Lindsay portrays David with soft and quiet determination. An aspiring pastor, we witness the pressure David faces as the first in his family to attend such a prestigious school. Rabi Kondé delivers a compelling performance as Bobby, the headmaster’s nephew, whose bigotry is mixed with grief for his mother. Khalid Daley brings an abundance of charisma to JR, who is struggling academically yet still carries this optimistic energy. Freddie MacBruce plays AJ, Pharus’s roommate, who often supports Pharus. AJ is played with a calm presence and a hint of cheekiness. I adored their conversations as both characters portrayed a genuine, fun friendship.

The parallel phone calls scene subtly highlights the contrasts between the characters’ lives at home – the different expectations and relationships with their family. There’s intimate movement direction (Ingrid Mackinnon) with the characters leaning on or holding one another up. One poignant scene sees the students physically support a grieving Bobby, and it was honestly a powerful display of brotherhood.

Choir Boy brilliantly explores the intersection of Black masculinity, sexuality, faith and how this manifests in the young men. The play acknowledges the courage it takes to be open and have self-acceptance. McCraney crafts nuanced characters, and the script feels incredibly authentic. Paired with Medina’s expressive direction, the chemistry between the actors is outstanding. The playful banter and sharp comebacks add so much humour, but also make their relationships feel real. 

With exceptional performances, beautiful music and wonderful writing, Choir Boy is a fantastic piece of theatre that I won’t forget! 

Choir Boy is playing at Stratford East until 25 April!