The People’s Show Choir’s 1st International Tour in Krakow, Poland!
The People’s Show Choir embarks on ‘incredible’ first tour abroad to Poland sparking new announcement
Amidst the beauty of Krakow’s Old Town, around 100 People’s Show Choir voices rang out and the smiles were unmissable. Singers from various Show Choirs came together for their first ever international tour and what they found was “incredible”.
A year in the making, the trip to Poland was organised by People’s Show Choir tour leader Chris Weber. With only one four-hour full rehearsal outside together in advance at Birmingham’s Chamberlain’s Square, 108 people headed to Krakow for the five-day trip from May 27 to 31.
Nervous and excited, they performed three hour-long outdoor concerts across the historic Polish city centre over three consecutive days. Each featured 13 well-loved songs from musicals along with pop hits – a Mary Poppins medley to Madonna’s Like a Prayer.
Mushrooms are not the only thing growing in the sun..!
But the response took them by surprise. Expecting to entertain locals and tourists fleetingly as they passed by, the choir ended up getting crowds forming to watch the whole show. The delighted audience even cried out for an encore at one performance, something beyond the dreams of many of these delighted community choir members.
It has gone so well that now more trips are being announced for eager Show Choir members nationwide.
Tour leader Chris Weber said: “One concert was in a garden by the Centre of Culture and I was expecting 700 people to walk past for an event there and maybe stay for a moment, but many sat and stayed for the whole show. It was testament to the quality of the performers. They even asked for an encore, which we didn’t expect.”
The tour wasn’t just about singing as members also got to sightsee with tours around the city, underground in a salt mine and to the Unesco World Heritage Site and museum at infamous Auschwitz – Birkenau concentration camp. While sociable evening meals took them to Polish restaurants including in the charming Jewish Quarter for a traditional Kosher meal.
“I was blown away with how many people wanted to come given the financial situation in this day and age,” added Chris, who picked Krakow due to his Polish heritage and being able to speak the language in case of any problems.
“The tour was brilliant and everything went smoothly including the weather as there was beautiful sunshine. Every concert was an amazing experience, but the tour was important as a way of bonding people together.
“It was like being in the Big Brother house, living in each other’s pockets, but nothing can bond people as well as that. Our members from choirs in Halesowen made friends with those from Shrewsbury and Sutton and it was really wonderful to see.
“The Show Choirs are all about community and friendship, so to see people mingling together was joyous. It was all about joy and laughter with a brilliant atmosphere and no-one was miserable in any way.
“But the people in the Show Choirs tend to be positive, they enjoy the best that life can offer and that’s a real joy to be around. It’s something very special for the singers to be able to share their music and joy abroad, so we are planning more.”
There’s always time for a photo op with TPSC Halesowen!
The success of this first tour has already set the wheels in motion for more. A second People’s Show Choir tour to the Scottish Highlands including Inverness and Isle of Skye will take place in May 2025 and there are plans to head to the Spanish city of Barcelona in May 2026.
Singer Philip Field, a member of three Show Choirs in Halesowen, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich for three years, said: “Initially, I wasn’t going to sign up for the tour, but I did and I’m so glad because it was incredible.
“I really got to know people from other choirs that I don’t get the chance to chat to at other concerts. It was brilliant getting to know them over coffee, cake and evening meals. There was great camaraderie and great fun – and that makes you feel good.
“The people in Poland were very receptive to us and seemed to enjoy what we were doing. Being asked for an encore was great. I’d never been to Poland before and I’d definitely come back with my family, or even better still, the Show Choir again.”
The five-day trip to Poland cost from £400 per person including accommodation, day trips, breakfasts and evening meals at restaurants. Flights were extra and cost less than £200 per person for a return journey.
