Learn about the production history of 'Fiddler on the Roof'

We take a look at notable productions of the classic shtetl-set musical ahead of Jordan Fein's Olivier Award-winning production's return to London this summer.

Julia Rank28 April, 2025, 23:00

The beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof originated with Sholem Aleichem’s “Tevye the Dairyman” stories, written in Yiddish and published in 1894. Featuring a gruff but loveable patriarch, they deal with his financial ups and downs, his sometimes-fraught marriage to his sharp-tongued wife Golde, and his headstrong daughters’ love lives. The setting is an archetypal Eastern European Jewish village, or “shtetl”. These villages were targeted by pogroms (organised massacres) from the late nineteenth century and went on to be demolished entirely by the Holocaust.

Aleichem eventually moved to the United States, and his Yiddish-language stage adaptation was first performed in 1919, three years after his death, and the stories have inspired several film interpretations.

Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein’s musical adaptation premiered on Broadway in 1964. Despite initial concerns that the show was too culturally specific to appeal to mainstream audiences — and dismissed by Jewish American novelist Philip Roth as “shtetl kitsch” — it quickly became an enormous hit with its universal themes of faith, family, and the meaning of home, as well as its wonderful score and robust humour.

From the 1970s to 1990s, the show was revived several times on Broadway, in the West End, regionally, and on tour, usually in replicas of the original production and as a star vehicle for a well-known character actor playing Tevye (most notably the great Topol). This century, new productions have offered fresh takes on the material, while remaining faithful to the show’s big-hearted spirit and the essence of the iconic original choreography by Jerome Robbins.

The show has been performed worldwide, and it is estimated that around 500 amateur productions are staged each year in the United States alone. Read our guide to the landmark productions of this wonderful musical ahead of its return to London in May at the Barbican in Jordan Fein’s triple Olivier-winning production.

Book Fiddler on the Roof tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

1964: Original Broadway production

Following try-outs in Detroit and Washington DC, Fiddler on the Roof arrived at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre in September 1964. Zero Mostel (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Producers) and Maria Karnilova, who were both born to Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, won Tony Awards for their performances as Tevye and Golde. The cast also included operatic soprano Julia Migenes as second-eldest daughter Hodel, and future Golden Girls star Bea Arthur as matchmaker Yente. A young Bette Midler was in the ensemble and then succeeded Joanna Merlin as eldest daughter Tzeitel. The show became the first Broadway musical to surpass 3,000 performances and won nine Tonys out of ten nominations, including Best Musical, Best Composer and Lyricist, Best Book of a Musical, Best Director, and Best Choreography.

The show was produced by Harold Prince and directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. The designs by Ukrainian-born Boris Aronson, a six-time Tony winner who also worked extensively in Yiddish theatre, were inspired by the paintings of Marc Chagall. There was no shortage of backstage drama as Robbins and Mostel did not get along, because Mostel had defied the House Un-American Activities Committee during the Red Scare of the 1950s and was subsequently blacklisted, while Robbins had cooperated (albeit following years of pressure).

1967: Original West End production

The Broadway smash transferred to the West End three years later, starring Israeli actor Topol as Tevye and sitcom star and political activist Miriam Karlin as Golde. Motel was played by Jonathan Lynn, who went on to create the sitcom Yes, Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister. The show ran for 2,030 performances at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Topol had previously played Tevye in the Tel Aviv production of the show and initially learned the English-language version phonetically. He immortalised the role in the 1971 film adaptation (while only in his mid-thirties) and was nominated for an Oscar. Having reprised the role for many tours and limited runs, Topol played Tevye for the final time in 2009. It is estimated that he played the beloved patriarch on at least 3,500 occasions.

2004: Broadway revival

The show returned to Broadway for limited runs in 1976 (starring Mostel, not long before his death), 1981 (starring Herschel Bernardi), and 1990 (starring Topol). The show was revived again in 2004 to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary, in a new production directed by David Levaux. Alfred Molina played Tevye and Laura Michelle Kelly, who soon after created the title role in Mary Poppins in the West End, was Hodel. The production was nominated for six Tonys.

2007: West End revival

Fiddler was revived in London for short runs in 1983 and 1994, both starring Topol. Lindsay Posner’s new production premiered in Sheffield before transferring to the West End, starring Henry Goodman and Beverley Klein as Tevye and Golde (Klein plays Yente in the current production). Alexandra Silber, who played a luminous Hodel, was moved to write the novel After Anatevka, imagining Hodel’s quest to reunite with husband Perchik in Siberia.

2015: Broadway revival

Bartlett Sher’s revival starred Danny Burstein (currently playing opposite Audra McDonald in Gypsy) as Tevye and attracted some minor controversy due to the use of a contemporary framing device. The aforementioned Alexandra Silber played Tzeitel and Adam Dannheisser, now playing Tevye, was Lazar Wolf (it's a show that many actors seem to "grow" with). The production played for 463 performances, was nominated for three Tonys, and toured the US extensively.

2019: West End revival

Trevor Nunn’s production originated at the Menier Chocolate Factory before transferring to the Playhouse Theatre, starring Andy Nyman and Judy Kuhn. Molly Osborne, currently playing Desdemona in Othello on Broadway opposite Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, was Tzeitel. The production won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and LondonTheatre.co.uk’s reviewer hailed it as “a joyous, poignant production”.

2024 and 2025: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Barbican Theatre revival

Jordan Fein’s production at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, led by Adam Dannheisser and Lara Pulver, was deeply moving, with outstanding performances and musical values. In light of current events, LondonTheatre.co.uk’s reviewer observed that “this wonderfully immersive Fiddler is more relevant than ever”.

The production was nominated for 13 Olivier Awards and won three: Best Musical Revival, Best Set Design (Tom Scutt), and Best Sound Design (Nick Lidster). Mazel tov! It returns to London to play at the Barbican Theatre this summer prior to a tour.