Fiddler on the Roof – Bord Gáis Energy Theatre – Review
07 – 18 October 2025

Find out more about this production of Fiddler on the Roof on their website here. 

Tevye (Matthew Woodyatt) is a man of his time, living with his wife, Golde (Jodie Jacobs) and his five daughters in the small village of Anatevka in 1905. He is a religious man, a Jew who respects and follows the teachings of his local Rabbi. When the village matchmaker, Yente (Beverley Klein), arrives at his door with news that the wealthy butcher wants to wed his eldest daughter, Tzeitel (Natasha Jules Bernard), it is a cause for celebration. Although Tzeitel has other ideas, as the butcher is older than her father! She is in love with another man, a penniless tailor by the name of Motel (Dan Wolff).

The musical “Fiddler on the Roof” opened on Broadway in 1964 and was a massive success. It became one of the longest-running shows on Broadway and won nine Tony awards, including Best Musical. The musical was adapted for the silver screen in 1971, and it went on to win three Academy Awards. It has slightly fallen out of favour in recent years, but there is no doubting its pedigree. This production is by director Jordan Fein and started life in London’s Regent Park Open Air Theatre in 2024 before transferring to the Barbican this year. It comes with a succession of five-star reviews, and from the opening number ‘Tradition’, it is easy to see why.

The play is staged with lines of wheat visible on either side of a large open space. The titular ‘roof’ hangs above proceedings, and we do occasionally get a fiddler performing from on high! The large cast is constantly in motion, and the stage can be furious at times. It takes a village to raise a child, and it’s obvious with the variety of characters intermingling on stage.

The majority of productions that arrive from the West End are polished within an inch of their lives. This production feels a little rough around the edges and is all the better for it. The use of the Fiddler on stage, as he interacts with the performers, makes it feel like a wandering minstrel in an idyllic vision of the past. Matthew Woodyatt is brilliant as the honest and hard-working Tevye, who only wants the best for his family. The choral singing is another enjoyable element, with so many different voices on stage, they fill the auditorium with a booming sound. The dancing is rich and well worked, with the wedding scene working extremely well. Another well-constructed scene is the dream sequence that uses the massive cast to create a fiendish vision. If you’re a fan of musicals, it’s not to be missed. If you’re not a fan of musicals, this could well convert you.