Menagerie choir’s latest show, XOX, is a compilation of indie pop songs that chart a relationship, through its ups and downs.

With a carefully curated track list, listeners can expect to witness passion, tenderness, regret and heartbreak, plus a dash of racy humour. 

Menagerie is a community choir that has been making music for over ten years. Excited to learn about the latest in a long line of Fringe performances, Seesaw Mag’s Rachel Denham-White chatted with long-time chorister Jo Manning. 

Rachel Denham-White: For Seesaw Mag readers who aren’t familiar with Menagerie, can you tell us a bit about the choir?

Jo Manning: We’re a Perth-based community choir and we perform funny, moving and rousing renditions of indie pop songs that we love.

As the name suggests, we’re something of a rabble – there are no auditions required for this choir. To join, you just need a passion for singing great songs, and be able to commit to learning your parts. There are plenty of people in our choir who have no previous musical experience, but our collective joy and enthusiasm for the songs we sing, and the people we sing them with, carries us through.

We perform two big shows a year, with some little extras sprinkled here and there to keep us on our toes.

We were founded by Perth choir legend Claire Coleman in 2013, and this Fringe season is our 20th, so it’s a pretty special one for us. To say we are excited is an understatement!

RDW: Tell us about your 2023 Fringe show, XOX.

JM: XOX tracks the journey of a relationship – from the starry-eyed beginning to what we think is hopeful closure, via songs that convey the lust, the contentment and the heartbreak in between. It’s a theme we think most people in the world can relate to, so really, everyone should come! 

As always, there’s an element of fun and naughtiness in our show, as well as some moving moments. We want to see some emotional reactions when we really get the crescendos working. 

Look out for our bearded fairies causing mischief in the foyer before the singing starts. We’ll also be hosting a series of games beforehand, including Spin the Wheel, where participants can win having a song dedicated to them.

RDW: What is the story behind XOX? What inspired the theme?

JM: As this was our 20th season, we wanted to come to Fringe with an extra special theme. And what is more special than love, even if it doesn’t work out in the end? 

We also wanted this season to be as huge and ambitious as possible, so we have assembled what we think is our biggest choir yet. Over a hundred singers will be performing on the big stage in the Heath Ledger Theatre later this month. Thankfully we should be well accommodated; it’s probably the most prestigious venue we’ve ever performed in. 

We’re hoping to take people on a real journey, as we’ve included the bitterness and resentment as well as the hearts and flowers. Relationships are messy, a bit like Menagerie, so it’s the perfect fit for us! 

RDW: Take us behind the scenes of Menagerie – what happens during the creative and rehearsal process?

JM: The process began in September when our creative panel got together and discussed a variety of season themes. Once we settle on a theme we always ask choir members for song suggestions and since 99% of songs out there are about relationships, the Creative Panel had a huge long list of selections to whittle down. This was really, REALLY hard! 

Once the songs are chosen, our choir director Sally Banyard and other musical whizzes in the choir begin the process of arranging the songs, for three to as many as six parts. The next stage is teaching these arrangements to our choir in weekly rehearsals and workshops. 

The time of year just before a show is often a frantic and exciting time as we make the final preparations, solidify our lighting and sound arrangements and figure out elements like staging and choir movement. One of the best rehearsals we do is singing with our band for the first time just before our shows, it’s always spine-tingling to hear it all coming together for the first time.

RDW: What do you hope audiences will take away from XOX?

JM: That love and relationships are a wonderful, messy part of life, and we shouldn’t be afraid to pursue and get lost in them. 

We also want everyone to have a damn good time. Just leave your inhibitions at the door and immerse yourself in the experience.

RDW: Aside from your own show, what are you looking forward to seeing during the summer festivals season?

JM: Many of our choir are excited to be going to see the brilliant Hengequeens choir at this year’s Fringe. This is our founder – Claire Coleman’s – latest project and they’ll be performing feminist anthems with pizzazz, attitude and bags of talent.

Some of the choir were lucky enough to get Perth Festival tickets for Bjork, an artist who is particularly important to Menagerie. We’ve performed two of her songs in our seasons – “Big Time Sensuality” and “Cosmogony” – so we love her to death and know she will put on a show to remember.

RDW: What is your favourite part of the playground?

JM: Everyone in the choir will have different opinions, but this particular member is partial to the flying fox.

XOX will be playing at the Heath Ledger Theatre from 31 January to 2 February 2023

Pictured top: A moment from Menagerie’s 2022 show ‘Riot on the Dance Floor’. Photo: Anthony Tran.

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