To stage a great production of Fiddler on the Roof you need a strong lead performance by Tevye, and Marc Kerr certainly delivers one for the Bury St Edmunds Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s show at the Theatre Royal.

In fact the whole cast shines as they tell the story of a dairyman and his family, struggling to cope with their harsh existence in Czarist Russia in 1905 (it’s funnier than it sounds).

Rachelle Curtis is sweet as eldest daughter Tzeitel, who begs her father for permission to marry the poor tailor Motel - played here by a suitably meek Ben Hill.

But this is just the start of Tevye’s problems as one-by-one his daughters flout tradition and choose their own husbands rather than using a matchmaker.

Throughout the show, the audience is moved, amused and constantly entertained as the performance delivers a warmth of spirit that inspires genuine affection for the characters.

Remarkable moments include a poignant ‘Sabbath Prayer’ from the entire cast, a rousing and joyous ‘To Life’ from Tevye and and Lazar Wolf (Tom Anderson) and a truly touching rendition of ‘Far From The Home I Love’ by Megan Barber as Hodel.

But star of the show was undeniably Marc Kerr whose engaging portrayal of Tevye was booming, playful and endearing - indeed, his dance to ‘If I were a rich man’ is worth the ticket price alone.