⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A sensational production – beautifully staged and brilliantly performed.
I walked into The Alexandra Theatre with high expectations – after all, Fiddler on the Roof had already wowed audiences over and over again at The Barbican in London. Within seconds of the curtain rising, those expectations weren’t just met… they were completely blown out of the water.
The first thing you notice is the suspended ceiling that descends at the very start, carrying the fiddler (played with such presence by the incredibly talented Roman Lytwyniw). It instantly sets the tone for what’s to come. The ceiling, covered in hay, with poppies intertwined, really sets the scene. Designer Tom Scutt deserves huge praise as although in parts it feels like there’s little in way of props – less is indeed more and the hay bales, the clever moveable “second floor” that shifts the energy of a scene in an instant, all comes together effortlessly to turn the stage into the rustic, impoverished Jewish village of Anatevka. It’s very cleverly thought out staging using evocative lighting, smoke, and haze to build atmosphere.
For anyone new to the story, Fiddler on the Roof follows Tevye (Matthew Woodyatt), a philosophical Jewish milkman with proud traditions, doing his best to hold onto them while the world around him begins to change. A Papa to five daughters, three of whom are now at the age where they could get married (a marriage set up by the “matchmaker”) they grow up, fall in love, and push against the old customs Tevye has always lived by and as political tensions rise and the threat of Russian pogroms forcibly removing the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe from their homes, the whole community faces upheaval.
Matthew Woodyatt is phenomenal as Tevye. Portraying warmth, humour and a contagious energy. His delivery of ‘If I Were a Rich Man’ (a song where he daydreams about the luxuries, respect and ease that wealth would bring) was pitch perfect, and I genuinely don’t understand how he manages to be that vocally strong while bouncing, stomping and dancing around the stage. That is talent right there! I thoroughly enjoyed his scenes with Jodie Jacobs as Golde his wife. Playful bickering, tenderness and that very recognisable “we’ve been married forever” energy. It reminded me of the relationship of my Grandma and Grandad. My Grandad actually loved Fiddler on the Roof – maybe he modelled the relationship with my Grandma on this one. Ha!
The daughters, Tzeital (Natasha Jules Bernard), Chava (Hannah Bristow) and Hodel (Georgia Bruce) gave a gorgeous performance of Matchmaker. The energy and playfulness of Hodel when with student revolutionary Perchik (Greg Bernstein) was brilliant. The first dance they have, had me wanting to jump up and join in – although I would have needed a lie-down after, but they managed to carry on with scene after scene!
Julia Cheng (Choreographer) has ensured this production keeps you on the edge of your seat with powerful dances and movement. A personal favourite being the bottle dance (a dance that includes balancing bottles on heads) and I was so impressed to see that no one had a single wobble. I started to wonder if the hats were some kind of magic. How do you dance so energetically all with a bottle balanced on your head? A really great scene.
All while the production is performed, the live band are perched at the back of the stage, looking out over the “wheat fields.” It added a rustic, intimate feel and made the whole space feel alive. I’d love to explore the set properly – the mechanics, the movement, the way it transforms… it’s all so cleverly done.
By the final scene, the entire theatre was completely still. You don’t just watch Anatevka’s story, you feel it.
And judging by the standing ovation, I wasn’t the only one blown away. It really is a masterpiece of a musical – what a way to end 2025, with a sensational production that tops all shows I’ve seen this year.
Fiddler on the Roof runs at The Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 3 January 2026, and it would make the perfect Christmas treat. I’ll be humming If I Were a Rich Man for weeks – and thinking about this production for even longer.
Book your tickets here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/fiddler-on-the-roof/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/
Disclaimer: This review was written after being invited to the press showing of Fiddler on the Roof on Tuesday 9 December at The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham.