BATH Operatic and Dramatic Society have never been a company to avoid rushing in where some would fear to tread and their rendition of the popular musical Fiddler on the Roof is no exception.

A combination of father and daughter, Tristan and Maisie Carter, have concocted a lively production on at the Theatre Royal in Bath until Saturday, April 27.

With this production, Maisie, 22, becomes BODS’ youngest-ever director/choreographer, while Tristan is playing the lead role of Tevye in one of the world’s best-loved stage musicals.

Barbara Ingledew plays Golde, Tevye’s long-suffering wife of 25 years, while the elder three of their five daughters are excellently played by Lydia Marsh as Tzeitel, Shannon Croker as Hodel and Izzy Atkin as Chava.

Yente, the elderly village Matchmaker, is played by Anna-Marie Manley, and Grant McCotter plays the passionate revolutionary Perchik.

This song and dance extravaganza is bursting with memorable and instantly recognisable songs including If I Were A Rich Man, To Life, Sunrise Sunset and Matchmaker Matchmaker.

Living in a Russian village in 1905, Tevye, the local milkman, has always stuck to a way of life laid down by generations of tradition.

So when his head-strong daughters decide they want to marry for love rather than agree to the choice of Yente, the village Matchmaker, Tevye finds his faith and convictions sorely tested and is faced with the challenge of convincing his wife and other villagers to accept change.

With a cast of 52 local performers, aged from eight to 70 years, who hail from Bath, Bristol, Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire, BODS is able to call on the talents of a wide range of local semi-professionals and amateurs.

While the singing and acting from the lead roles are exceptional, sadly the changes between scenes were less than slick and seamless transitions.

The production also suffered from BODS insane insistence on giving everyone in the company a part on stage in its productions.

This led to chaotic choreography in the crowd scenes, particularly the wedding scene just before the interval, where performers are literally bumping into each other.

John Baker