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# REVIEW: Actually Gay Men’s Chorus – Show Me Christmas
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/review-actually-gay-mens-chorus-show-me-christmas/
- Published: 2023-12-18T11:48:07.000Z
- Updated: 2023-12-18T12:12:41.000Z
- Description: Brian Butler finds a Brighton choir at the top of its form
- Author: Brian Butler
- Tags: Arts, LGBTQ Choirs, Music, Reviews, Ian Hollands, Jack Lynn, Nick Paget, Samuel Cousins, St Mary’s Kemptown

**Actually Gay Men’s Chorus** always delight and surprise, and their Christmas concert found them at the very top of their form.

They have a deep rich creamy tone, with bottom and top parts combining beautifully. But one of their great attributes is their sheer vocal power. And ***Show Me Christmas***, their seasonal concert, proved that in abundance.

Under the dexterous control of musical director **Samuel Cousins**, they didn’t put a note wrong in their joyous two-hour concert. Sam has a knack of getting them to sing full belt and a capella, then cutting the final note off so the sound soars to the rafters of **St Mary’s** in Kemptown, where it lingers, resonates and falls back to our ears. Every time they do this it’s an absolute delight.

Their rip-roaring opening was **Joubert**’s *Torches*, with its marching rhythms and contrasting quiet sections – a brilliant start. *In the Bleak Midwinter* had soloists **Jack Lynn** and **Bill Meatyard** giving us delightfully clear high notes. When they’re a capella, the chorus is often at their best and so it was with the *Coventry Carol*, with its haunting minor keys.

**Ian Hollands**, positioned at the back of the congregation, had a great tone as he sang and the chorus responded in the high octane *Gaudete*, and the new-to-me *Joseph’s Lullaby* was haunting and beautiful. *Live On*, with a whole group of soloists, reminded us of those we’ve lost as we are “grateful for the gift of one more day”.

Three TV/film themes made up the first half – *Rex Admirabilis* had its chorus of *Sound Of Music* nuns replaced with a small group ensconced out of sight at the high altar, sounding pitch perfect. *The Vicar Of Dibley*’s theme *The Lord Is My Shepherd* had triumphantly strong harmonies – wonderful to hear, and was followed by the lush melodies of **Irving Berlin**’s classic *White Christmas*.

Part Two gave us more of a relaxed party feeling, with the group in open neck shirts and sporting braces. *O Holy Night*, with solos by **Nick Paget** and **Andrew Whitlaw** got applause mid-song – richly deserved. *Bethlehem*, by the creators of *Les Mis,* was another first for me, with soft and gentle melodies building to a great climactic ending. A kind of *Jive Bunny* mix followed and then lively interpretations of *Let It Snow* and *Rocking Merry Christmas* put us in good spirits.

There was a fun audience participation number with the fiendishly complicated *12 Days of Christmas*, which involved a lot of standing up and sitting down in rapid succession, but we got through it. And it was almost time to go – but Actually had one more cracker up its sleeve – a gorgeous Disney medley, and for me its highlight – the timely and haunting *God Help The Outcasts* from *Hunchback of Notre Dame*.

Can this choir get any better ? I doubt it. First class stuff and a full five stars.