The Choral cast: Every character featured in the history-drama and the actors behind them

Set during World War I, The Choral is a British historical drama that explores how music becomes a lifeline for a community under strain. Co-produced and directed by Nicholas Hytner and written by Alan Bennett, the 2025 film continues a creative partnership known for character-driven storytelling and sharply observed social detail.

The synopsis for the film, as per Sony Pictures Classics, reads:

“1916. As war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral’s ambitious committee, determined to press ahead, decides to recruit local young males to swell their ranks. They must also engage a new chorus master, and despite their suspicions that he has something to hide, their best bet seems to be Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) – driven, uncompromising, and recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the whole community discovers that the best response to the chaos that is laying waste to their lives is to make music together.”

With morale low and tradition threatened, the group recruits a controversial new conductor to lead a performance of Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius. The particular work was chosen to be performed because it was not written by a German.

Anchored by an exceptional cast of British stage and screen veterans, the film’s strength lies in the depth and variety of its performances.

Cast details for The Choral explored

• Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Henry Guthrie: The English actor Ralph Fiennes leads The Choral as Dr. Henry Guthrie, a former organist turned choirmaster, who is central to the controversy in Ramsden. With time spent in Germany practising his art and unfound rumours about his sexuality, Guthrie is treated like an outsider when he returns home, especially since the film is set during a sensitive wartime. Fiennes is one of Britain’s most respected actors, widely known for Schindler’s List, The English Patient, the Harry Potter films as Lord Voldemort, and the James Bond franchise as M. His stage background lends authority and restraint to Guthrie, a character defined as much by silence as by conviction.
• Roger Allam as Alderman Bernard Duxbury: In the film, Roger Allam plays Alderman Bernard Duxbury, the wealthy mill owner who chairs the Ramsden Choral Society. Duxbury is passionate about music and civic pride, yet deeply aware of public opinion. His character plays an integral role in appointing Guthrie as the choirmaster. He brings political caution to a character navigating leadership during uncertainty. Allam is best known for his roles in Endeavour, The Thick of It, and Game of Thrones.
• Mark Addy as Joe Fyton: In The Choral, Mark Addy portrays Joe Fyton, a photographer and long-time choir committee member. Joe documents young men before they leave for war, often capturing what may become their final images. His role underscores the quiet labor of remembrance carried out far from the front lines. Addy is widely recognized for playing King Robert Baratheon in Game of Thrones and for his performance as Dave Horsesfall in The Full Monty and its sequels. His presence adds emotional texture to the film.
• Alun Armstrong as Mr. Trickett: Alun Armstrong appears as Mr. Trickett, the town undertaker and a stalwart member of the choral society. With death becoming routine, Trickett’s work places him at the intersection of grief and duty. Armstrong is known for New Tricks, Bleak House, and his stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. 
• Simon Russell Beale as Edward Elgar: Simon Russell Beale makes a memorable appearance as composer Edward Elgar. Though on screen briefly, his role carries thematic weight, particularly when Elgar learns of alterations to The Dream of Gerontius. Beale is one of Britain’s most acclaimed stage actors, known for The Death of Stalin, Penny Dreadful, and House of the Dragon. His cameo in The Choral adds wit and authority, highlighting the tension between artistic integrity and necessity. 
• Jacob Dudman as Clyde: Jacob Dudman portrays Clyde, a young soldier believed to be dead who returns home alive but missing an arm. His reappearance disrupts personal relationships and reshapes the emotional landscape of Ramsden. Dudman is known for The Stranger, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, and Fate: The Winx Saga. In The Choral, he brings vulnerability and restraint to a character confronting life after survival.
• Robert Emms as Robert Horner: Robert Emms plays Robert Horner, the choir’s pianist and Guthrie’s closest ally. Horner’s storyline addresses conscientious objection and the consequences of refusing military service. Emms is known for roles in Chernobyl, War Horse, and Andor.

The remaining ensemble for The Choral includes Amara Okereke as Mary, Lyndsey Marshal as Mrs. Bishop, Emily Fairn as Bella, Ron Cook as the vicar, Shaun Thomas as Mitch, Taylor Uttley as Ellis, Oliver Briscombe as Lofty, Tamzin Griffin as Miss Niner, Angela Curran as Mrs. Pemberton, and Reuben Bainbridge as Black Bright.

Together, these characters complete Ramsden’s portrait as a community shaped by fear, compassion, and resilience.

By dividing its attention across multiple lives, The Choral avoids framing war through heroics alone. Instead, it focuses on those left behind, on how art and ritual offer brief sanctuary from uncertainty. Music becomes both refuge and resistance, binding individuals who might otherwise drift apart.

The Choral is now available in select theaters in the United States, distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, with wider availability expected to follow.