Factory House Choir

There is something remarkably grounding about group singing, provided you aren’t being judged on your ability to hit a high C. Aviva Studios is leaning into that communal spirit with the return of the Factory House Choir, a series of workshops designed to get people moving, breathing, and singing together without the pressure of an audition.

Running from April through to June, these sessions are pitched as ‘singing for the soul.’ The focus here isn’t on technical perfection or preparing for a high-stakes recital; it’s about the physical and mental benefits of collective vocalising. It’s open to absolutely everyone, regardless of whether you’ve spent years in a choral society or your experience is strictly limited to the acoustic reverb of your own shower.

The sessions take place in the vast, industrial-chic surroundings of the Aviva Studios foyer, a space that usually hosts massive art installations and world-premiere theatre, but feels surprisingly intimate when filled with a few dozen people trying to find a harmony.

The best part is that it’s completely free. In a city where a pint is creeping toward the seven-pound mark, an hour of professional vocal coaching and community connection that costs zero pence is a rare find. You don’t need to bring anything other than yourself, though grabbing a coffee from the bar beforehand is probably a sensible move for the vocal cords.