Review: A STAN IS BORN!, The Hope Theatre

When Alexis moves from New York to Germany, they are overcome with culture shock until the day they discover Celine Dion’s music. This life-changing discovery transforms them overnight into both a diva stan. But what is stan-dom? Who are the divas that sung their way into Alexi’s world? This autobiographical, one person musical comedy explores what it’s like to be a diehard fan of something/someone and what this means when combined with a queer awakening.

The show made its debut at The Cockpit in London in October 2023 and since then, it has run at many different venues such as The Golden Goose Theatre (as part of Kaleidoscope Theatre Festival), Kings Head theatre, New Wimbledon Theatre, Rosemary Branch Theatre, Zoo Playground (as part of Edinburgh Fringe), Soho Theatre and Camden People’s Theatre. It is due to return in 2025 for a run at Brighton Fringe. Alexis Sakellaris, who also performs in the show, wrote the libretto and the score for this musical in their bedroom whilst finishing their masters.

Even though the theatre itself resides right above a crowded pub, the performance space feels intimate. A world away from everything else, it allows the audience to really become absorbed in the material. The set only consists of a keyboard, a box and t-shirts depicting famous celebrity divas, but it works well because it enables the soloist to be the main focus of the performance. Yes, this is a fringe show, but it is also a work of art in showing that musicals don’t need to be high budget and flashy to be great. A simple set can say a lot, especially when it allows performers to control the space, thus creating sharper visual storytelling.

The performance style itself is a clever mix of traditional musical theatre song-belting and scales, with a lot of stand-up comedy elements. We love how frequently Sakellaris breaks the fourth wall, even though the show is about their experiences with fandom during childhood progressing to adulthood, the audience is invited to join in on the conversation and reflect and share their own experiences. This not only creates more of a sense of collectivity within the audience as we all gather to watch the show, but it also enforces a sense of relatability and connection. That even though we may be stans of different things, we are all connected by the fact that we are stans of something.

Whilst this show is ultimately a love letter to and celebration of fandom, in whatever form it comes in, it also acknowledges the difficulties that come with it. Whether that be bullying in school or feeling like an outsider in the place you live in. Additionally, it celebrates fan devotion, whilst sending a clear message that to be healthy, it must come with self love and self-celebration.

The intersection between fandom and the discovery of sexual and gender identities is really interestingly explored. The idea of being able to be out and proud about only one aspect of your identity because that particular aspect is considered more socially acceptable, is poignant and portrayed in an honest but respectful way. It is heartbreaking to watch Alexis put their fandom back in its box due to being ridiculed for being suspected of being queer, this being during their process of self discovery before they understand what queerness means to them and before they know that they can be out and proud.

It is worth mentioning that the investigation into celebrities, namely female role models and divas, is fascinating. It acknowledges that it is okay to see both sides of these figureheads and make the decision to choose to focus on the aspects of these people that are worth embracing.

Sakellaris is an incredibly talented performer. Their voice is gorgeous to listen to, the songs are well-written and create impactful emotional beats, which really brings the show together, and we don’t mind the lack of dancing, it works better in this style, which errs on the side of classic drag performance.

This show is highly entertaining and brutally honest, with its few grey moments allowing the overarching glitter to shine even brighter.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Megan O’Neill