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★★★★½
‘A Stan Is Born!’, the solo show from musical comedian Alexis Sakellaris has been at the Seven Dials Playhouse in London this week, following consecutive Edinburgh Fringe runs in 2024 and 2025 and performances at The Other Palace Studio earlier this year. The show draws on their own experiences as a queer kid who was fascinated by pop divas, taking audiences back in time to their childhood, when they suddenly moved from New York to rural Germany. Having interviewed the creative before last year’s EdFringe, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to finally watch the show whilst it was in London and what a wonderful and uplifting piece of theatre it is.
About the show
‘A Stan Is Born!’ sees the performer reflect on their pre-teenage years, specifically navigating their new life in rural Germany, new school, culture clashes and language barriers. Young Alexis looks to divas such as Céline Dion, Mariah Carey and Lady Gaga as a way of coping with uncomfortable real-life situations in the conservative town, exploring what it means to truly “stan”. Complete with 10 original songs that will make you laugh and cry, including the final anthem ‘I’m A Diva’, the 55-minute runtime flies by thanks to the engaging storytelling, amusing lyrics and brilliant vocals.
Performance style and energy
Alexis Sakellaris radiates joy in their performance style, bringing so much energy to this musical comedy. From learning about their musical icons and the effect of the “diva domino effect” to finding out about the everyday divas that were part of young Alexis’ life, the material is deeply personal and the audience goes on a rollercoaster with the performer. Not every joke or topical reference lands, but it is the performer’s commitment to knowing their audience and responding accordingly, that makes this show so naturally funny.
Beautiful underlying message
What I enjoyed most of all, is that beyond the diva impersonations and electric riffs, it is a piece of theatre about self-acceptance and focusing on yourself first. As the performer explains, if you can’t stan yourself, how are you going to stan anyone else and there is something that we can all take away from this story.
Uplifting and just what audiences need right now
‘A Stan Is Born!’ is celebratory, funny and packed full of heart. If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t quite fit in, you will really feel seen by this show. ‘A Stan Is Born!’ has now finished its run at Seven Dials Playhouse, but is heading to the Adelaide Fringe Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival this Spring. I cannot wait to hear what the comedian is working on next.
*My ticket for ‘A Stan Is Born!’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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