★★★★★
Very few stories have truly stood the test of time, and profoundly touched so many lives, quite like Fiddler on the Roof. One couldn’t help but wonder: how could an ordinary tale about a humble milkman from a century ago feel so relevant in 2026?
More than sixty years after its Broadway debut, when it became the first musical theatre show in history to play over 3,000 performances, Fiddler on the Roof makes its grand Melbourne return at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
This time, we get all the bells and whistles of the critically-acclaimed West End adaptation, plus a spectacular, star-studded Australian cast, with Director Jordan Fein at the helm.
Tradition thunders Act One into life, where we meet our everyman protagonist Tevye (Troy Sussman), his imposing wife Golde (Alexis Fishman) and five daughters. The milkman and his family live modest lives within a close-knit Jewish community held together by strict traditional customs in Anatevka, a secluded Russian town.
Tevye’s simple universe is delicate – like “a fiddler on the roof, trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck”. Embodying his ever-shifting conscience, the eponymous violinist (Ben Adler) lurks elusively, playing in pitch-perfect melody.
Meanwhile, the local matchmaker has her eye on his eldest daughter, while a strange student arrives like a cat amongst the pigeons, and the future hangs in the balance as sinister forces leer from the sidelines.
Troy Sussman is a truly formidable presence, pairing his flawless comedic wit with a commanding voice. Sussman’s portrayal of Tevye compassionately reveals a tough patriarch caught between centuries of tradition and unconditional love for his daughters.
He embarks on a transformative journey, lamenting his misfortunes (If I Were a Rich Man), coming to terms with his changing world (Tevye’s Monologue), then eventually realising that all he wants is to keep his loved ones safe from harm (Chavaleh / Little Bird).
Alexis Fishman astounds as the forbidding Golde, imbuing her with strength as a devoted wife and mother constrained by her community’s conservative mores (Sabbath Prayer). Fishman shares an easy, believable chemistry with Sussman, and this pays off beautifully during Do You Love Me?. Stripped of grand romantic gestures, the number’s simple question, asked repeatedly, carries a moving reflection on a lifetime of partnership and shared sacrifices.
The three eldest daughters – Freya Boltman as Tzeitel, Ellen Ebbs as Hodel, and Caity Plummer as Chava – represent the generational shift that’s slowly reverberating across the village. Their assured vocal performances (Matchmaker, Matchmaker) convey a shared desire to break free from outdated customs and forge their own paths, together with unyielding affection for their beloved father.
I must confess, it’s such a delight to be graced by the presence of not one, but two iconic Australian screen and stage legends in the show. Sigrid Thornton AO is utterly sublime as local matchmaker Yentel, gliding across the set serving scene-stealing sass (The Rumor / I Just Heard).
In contrast, John Waters growls and broods as wealthy butcher Lazar Wolf, the central culprit of the story’s more belligerent moments (To Life). Their collective luminescence on stage is undeniable.
Rounding out the cast are Felix Star as the clumsy tailor Motel, who provides most of the evening’s comedic relief; Maxwell Simon who passionately channels Perchik’s obstinate sense of justice; and Ben Adler, who as The Fiddler delivers a faultless turn as the show’s namesake, absolutely captivating in his exquisite violin mastery.
At the heart of the story is a stirring examination of uncomfortable truths. As Tevye’s family grapples with changing traditions (Sunrise, Sunset), the community around them searches for belonging in an increasingly hostile world (Far From the Home I Love) and faces up to the threat of violence, culminating in being exiled from their lands (Anatevka).
So then, who gets to stay, who needs to leave, and who decides between what has always been and what should be the right thing?
At a time when millions of people around the world still continue to face displacement and persecution simply for being who they are, Fiddler on the Roof invites us to gently contemplate these nefarious themes through the lives of Tevye and the people of Anatevka, with our minds firmly set in the present.
“So what can we do? It’s a new world!”
Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or keen to revisit a beloved masterpiece, Fiddler on the Roof is exactly the kind of musical we need right now. A fundamentally unmissable experience.
Fiddler on the Roof is presented by Trafalgar Theatre Productions and runs to 27 December at Her Majesty’s Theatre. It then runs in Perth as the final stop on the tour. See dates below.
Tickets for Melbourne are available here.
Website: https://fiddlerontherooftour.com/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/fiddlerontherooftour/
Photo credits: Daniel Boud
2026/7 Australian Tour Dates:
Melbourne 31 October – 27 December, Her Majesty’s Theatre
Perth 7 – 31 January, His Majesty’s Theatre
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