Alexis Sakellaris takes to the stage in A STAN IS BORN! a autobiographical musical solo show delving into the performer’s love divas. Edinburgh’s Zoo Playgrounds serves as home to this optimistic and feel good piece that celebrates the power, confidence and self-love that comes from stanning a good old diva.
Alexis delves into his early life, moving around with his family and growing up in the rural German countryside. Struggling to fit in at school, Alexis finds purpose in the school’s gospel choir – timed simultaneously with his discovery of pop diva Celine Dion. Growing fascinated with Celine leads Alexis down a path to further diva discovery with Streisand, Aretha and more becoming inspiration for the young performer.
Beginning with a rousing opening number on a stage adorned with a keyboard, a selection of contemporary pop diva t-shirts hanging behind him, and a variety of purple roses scattered on the audience chairs. Alexis has a warmth and positivity which radiates into the enthusiastic Playground crowd – yet as the performer goes on to explain – this confidence was not always there. The performer sprinkles a little audience interaction in, asking a few members who they have chosen to stan (‘be an overzealous fan of someone’), before humorously exploring the origins of the term through the Eminem and Dido track of the same name.
Alexis draws us into his story, an impressive raconteur, delving into the struggles of a queer diva loving youngster fitting in with football loving German boys. Recounting humorous stories of the comfort found in watching Desperate Housewives with his mother, Alexis breaks down the invisible wall between stage and audience, creating an atmosphere of a friend confiding personal stories to us.
Whilst delving through the strength delivered by stanning divas, Alexis also dips into some of the challenges of stanning these powerful women – giving examples of problematic behaviour from divas including Donna Summer, Shania Twain and Gwen Stefani over the years. These challenges are grounded in Alexis’s own experience, as the star explains his mother’s initial struggle to accept his differences – all while generally keeping the tone refreshing and light. Even when recounting homophobia experienced in his school days, Alexis prevents A STAN IS BORN! from becoming a cautionary tale for queer youth seen in the tragic irony that Alexis receives homophobia for adoring powerful women, whilst straight boys are allowed to play man-on-man team sports and that is fine.
A STAN IS BORN! serves as both a love letter to strong women and an acceptance of one’s inner diva, regardless of how we identify. Alexis grounds things in the final moments of the show by centring on the divas in his own life that taught him strength, before going on to celebrate his own inner diva in a triumphant final number.
Alexis has crafted is an uplifting celebration of self-love and the power of divas. The performer captivates with humour, charm, and a personal narrative that resonates with anyone who’s ever found strength in the stars they adore.
Tickets to Alexis Sakellaris: A STAN IS BORN! are available here.
Photo: Lucy Plumb