This Fiddler is a direct transfer of last year’s much-lauded Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production, though not much has changed in the move. The rural set, which merged beautifully with the surrounding trees and foliage at Regent’s Park, feels somewhat hemmed in within the confines of the Barbican. Surprisingly, however, this constraint adds a deeper intensity to the oppressive undertones that permeate the story.

Dannheisser and Pulver shine in the lead roles, with Dannheisser able to create the near impossible: delivering a solid and engaging Tevye that steps out of the shadow of Topol’s character-defining performance. Natasha Jules Bernard, Georgia Bruce, and Hannah Bristow excel as Tevye’s daughters, Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava, respectively, giving nuanced and balanced performances as each navigates the treacherous path between yielding to their own desires and meeting the expectations of their parents and community.

The rest of the cast deliver what needs to be done, though some of the minor performances feel a touch laboured. Under Jordan Fein’s direction, Dannheisser is given space to create his own take on Tevye—one torn between his love for his religion and community, and that for his family. This focus strongly anchors the story, though it creates a slightly unsatisfactory overall narrative.