Reverend Billy and the Show Stopping Choir: The Fabulous Unknown Review
Reviewed by Bronagh for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Newington Green Meeting House is an incredible venue with such a rich history. Built in 1708, local people were influential and had connections in high places. Newington Green became a community for dissenters, and the Meeting House was visited by the likes of Mary Wollstonecraft. Now in 2024 it is humanist church, regularly showcasing radical work. Most recently, Reverend Billy and the Show Stopping Choir visited the Meeting House and put on a spectacular show with a message that you’re sure to remember way after the end of the show.
I went in blind, not knowing anything about Reverend Billy and the Choir. To be quite honest, I wasn’t even sure if Reverend Billy was actually a Reverend or not! In fact, Reverend Billy is the creation of William Talen, debuting in Times Square in 1998. The Choir joined him in 2001, a 35-member group whose performances focus on environmental issues and consumerism campaigns.
The show starts with the Show Stopping Choir entering the space, walking alongside the pews until they reach what would traditionally be an altar. They’re accompanied by Reverend Billy and Joshua Nelson on the keys. The room is instantly filled with an energy like no other, each and every choir member putting their all into their brilliant performances and conveying their messages loud and clear. I am a fan of art that pushes boundaries and can be described as radical. Reverend Billy touched on the current crisis in the Middle East with chants of Viva Viva Palestina echoing throughout the space.
Reverend Billy and the Choir’s work is very current, and on topics that we read about in the papers probably nearly daily and it was clear the audience was very much on the same page. No one more so than James Brown, a Paralympian environmental activist who was imprisoned for climbing onto and gluing himself to a plane in the name of the climate emergency. This was the first custodial sentence given to somebody with Extinction Rebellion associations. Brown was in the front row of the show, well received by the performers who dedicated a performance of ‘Oh When the Saints Go Marching In’ to him which was almost surreal, but very enjoyable.
At one point of the show, we are encouraged to talk to our neighbour, to share the last time we felt ‘at one with nature’. Usually not one to enjoy these sorts of in-show activities, this was actually quite nice and got me looking forward to Autumn closing in and crunching through piles of leaves.
There was one moment where I found things dragged, and that was when the Reverend was telling a story relating to traffic cones. Enjoyable and funny in parts, I also found it to be quite long winded.
I’m almost glad that I went into this show blind, I left feeling rather inspired and keen to learn more about the collective. Sadly Reverend Billy and the Show Stopping Choir’s UK tour has now drawn to the end, but I know that I’ll be first in line to get tickets if they return. A brilliant show with purpose and meaning, and not short of show stoppers!
★★★★
