The twice sold-out West End production of Fiddler on the Roof opens in Sydney this week, with an all-star Australian cast set to take to the stage. Could this be the revival that Sydney’s theatre scene needs?
Sydney’s theatre industry has endured a difficult year, with three major musical setbacks fuelling concerns about the future of large-scale productions in the city. The early closure of Back to the Future: The Musical in January signalled a rocky start to 2026, while the cancellation of Beetlejuice The Musical and Waitress in June cast a further shadow over the city’s performing arts scene.
There’s no doubt that the industry is in search of a much-needed success story. Enter Fiddler on the Roof, which takes to the stage at Theatre Royal for previews this Friday, with its official opening set for August 5.
The musical arrives with impressive West End credentials, having become the Barbican Theatre’s best-selling musical of all time before breaking box office records during its UK and Ireland tour. Yet despite its success, a musical that premiered more than 60 years ago may seem an unlikely contender for getting Sydney’s thirst for theatre back in shape.
Set in the small Jewish village of Anatevka, Fiddler on the Roof follows milkman Tevye, a devoted father determined to uphold the traditions that have shaped his family’s life for generations. When each of his five daughters challenges those customs by choosing her own path, Tevye is forced to confront his beliefs. As antisemitism intensifies and the world around him begins to change, he must learn whether to hold onto the past or embrace the unfamiliar.
Although its story unfolds in 1905, producers believe Fiddler on the Roof is just as relevant to audiences today. They describe this revival as “a contemporary lens on a great classic musical”, bringing timeless themes of family, identity, tradition and change to a new generation.
Troy Sussman, who plays Tevye, told STG, “Fiddler holds today as it did in the mid 60’s. When the writing is as good as this, time has no bearing. We catch ourselves listening to these tunes or reading these words, and it is profound and moving. It is everything a Broadway show should be, with a dynamic new interpretation.”
Director Jordan Fein stated, “Fiddler on the Roof gives you everything. It is so funny, the dancing is glorious, the music is spectacular, every song you hear, you think, ‘oh, that’s where this is from’… ultimately, it’s a piece about love in the truest sense.”
A star-studded, all-Australian cast
In a bid to make Fiddler on the Roof a success, producers have rounded up a group of Australian stage heavyweights.
The cast is led by seasoned Australian and West End star Troy Sussman. With a career spanning over 40 years, he’s starred in shows including Back to the Future, Sunset Boulevard, Les Misérables and Disney’s Aladdin. He expressed his excitement about starring in the musical, stating,
“Jordan Fein has put together a wonderful collection of unique artists, both experienced and new to the industry. The chemistry in the room is electric, and together we are creating a fresh and dynamic Australian version of Fiddler on the Roof that was so successful in the UK.”
Sussman will be reunited with decorated Australian icon Sigrid Thornton, who will step into the role of gossiping village matchmaker, Yente.
This will be Thornton’s first starring role in a musical in over a decade, and will also mark her reunion with John Waters, who joins the cast as wealthy village butler, Lazar Wolf. The duo starred together in the beloved 1983 historical miniseries All the Rivers Run.
Waters is a household name on the Australian stage and screen, with theatre credits including Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror Show and The Sound of Music, alongside television and film roles in Offspring, All Saints, Breaker Morant and Play School.
Fresh from her award-winning tour of Anne Being Frank, Alexis Fishman stars as Golde, alongside rising talents Freya Boltman (Yiddish Divas) as Tzeitel, Ellen Ebbs (Head Over Heels) as Hodel and Caity Plummer (Sunset Boulevard) as Chava. Acclaimed violinist Ben Adler completes the cast in the titular role of the Fiddler.
