There are many good performances in this production, with excellent versions of those wonderful songs, but the show is dominated by Nigel Preece.

I have seen Nigel before as Tevye, the milkman with five daughters to marry off, and he gave a good performance the first time, but on Monday night he surpassed his previous best. I think even the great Topol would have been impressed.

Melanie Greenfield was a superb Golde, and others of note were Sarah Richards as Hodel, Chris Paine as Motel, Peter Page as Lazar Wolf and Daphne Knight as Yente the matchmaker - though there were no bad performances.

The ensemble numbers were especially memorable, my own favourites from this show - Sabbath Prayer and Anatevka - being performed superbly, also the haunting Sunrise, Sunset.

There are some laughs along the way in this moving story, which shows how people adapt to change, whether it be through more modern thinking, or inflicted by the authorities. The old values are gradually eroded, but Tevye can never come to terms with his daughter marrying a non-Jew.

What a terrific way to spend an evening. The show is on until Saturday. VJS.