Before Christmas, I suddenly realised I had booked tickets to see a performance of the UK tour of Fiddler on the Roof. I couldn’t remember what had driven me to do this, because whilst I love the songs in the show, the film always felt like it dragged and it’s not one I remember massively fondly. It’s a tough story as well, hard to watch, harrowing in places… a bit incongruous with the festive season we were building up to. Also, I like to hibernate in December.

I dragged myself out of my nest, though, and was really glad I did because the show was a triumph. It lives and dies by the actor playing Tevye, and this production was lucky to have Matthew Woodyatt in the main role. Although bringing a Welsh vibe to this turn of the century Russian Jewish character, his performance was outstanding. He brought great energy and heart to the role, frustration but with a hint of being a progressive, and ultimately a humble guy that just wants to earn a living and support his family.

The supporting cast were incredible too. It’s the kind of performance where they were on stage a lot - even when they weren’t in a particular scene, they would often hang around at the side, which meant they were deeply in character and I think that helped. The fiddler was obviously very talented, and all of it felt warm and inclusive.

It was a long first half, and after the interval the story takes a turn for the depressing, with children leaving home or being banished, and the ultimate forced departure from the town they love so much. What’s more brutal than anything is that these scenes don’t feel like they are that far in the past, and still retain relevance to this day. When the crops were set fire to, it was far more emotional than I was expecting.

But there’s joy too, and bringing it all together are the musical numbers combined with great staging and choreography to keep the energy up and your spirits lifted - somehow, despite everything that happens, you’re left with a little bit of hope that everything will be okay. And what better message could there be?