Usher Becomes Star in Fiddler on the Roof

By Mawunyo Gbogbo

Topic: Opera and Musical Theatre

Ellen Ebbs plays Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof at Theatre Royal Sydney, where she once worked as an usher. (Photo: Daniel Boud)

When Ellen Ebbs first stepped on stage as an actor in Fiddler on the Roof at Theatre Royal Sydney, she struggled to keep back tears.

Ebbs, 24, performed in the same theatre where she used to be an usher.

"It’s the same theatre I work in five times a week," Ebbs told ABC News.

Ebbs made her main‑stage debut in the Australian production of the award‑winning musical Fiddler on the Roof, starring Troy Sussman as Tevye, Alexis Fishman as Golde and Sigrid Thornton as Yente.

The musical is set in 1905 in the tiny village of Anatevka.

Tevye, a Jewish milkman, has five daughters, which brings a matchmaker’s visit.

But he must balance his proud traditions with a changing world and his children’s wishes.

Fiddler on the Roof is praised worldwide as one of the greatest shows ever, with songs like If I Were a Rich Man, Tradition, Matchmaker and Sunrise, Sunset.

'A crazy full‑circle moment'

Ebbs plays Tevye’s daughter Hodel, sharing the stage with Freya Boltman as Tzeitel and Caity Plummer as Chava.

Ellen Ebbs is making her main‑stage debut in Fiddler on the Roof. (Photo: Daniel Boud)

Having once been an usher in that same hall, the moment she saw the audience she was overwhelmed with feeling.

"It was a crazy full‑circle moment, seeing the stage from that side and looking at the stalls I used to work in."

"It was such a pinch‑me moment."

From the foyer to the stage

Ebbs began as an usher at Theatre Royal Sydney in February 2025.

Her first shift was on opening night of Hadestown starring Christine Anu.

"I remember my first shift. I thought, ‘Wait, I’m getting paid to watch theatre?’ It felt like a hack!"

Ebbs loved talking to patrons about each show.

Ellen Ebbs used to clean the stalls at the same theatre she now stars in. (Photo)

Her co‑workers were other young creatives – aspiring actors, directors and writers.

She says they have all been very supportive of her move to the stage.

"The support from Theatre Royal has really melted my heart," Ebbs said.

"On opening night there was a huge bouquet of flowers in my dressing room and a massive card signed by every usher and bartender."

She says staff greeted her in the foyer on opening night.

"They all started screaming my name, cheering, clapping, and my best friends were crying," she said.

"It felt like a movie."

"It was beautiful to see how excited everyone was. I realized every show I will have people supporting me because I have the ushers behind me."

"They’ve been very, very supportive."

Getting with the program

Ebbs graduated in Musical Theatre in 2024 from WAAPA after catching the acting bug early in life.

"My parents met doing amateur musicals.

"So I definitely got my love for theatre and musicals from them."

Ellen Ebbs’s duties included making coffee and cocktails. (Photo)

Ebbs always felt free on stage, but as the youngest of four children with both parents psychologists, she never thought acting could be a job.

Whenever she went to a show she read the program and saw many actors had graduated from WAAPA.

"I was like, ‘What is this WAAPA place?’" she said.

"I remember being about ten and thinking, ‘The people up there went here, so I’ll go there to get up there.’"

"That started my dream of going to acting school and attending WAAPA."

'Truly magic show'

In Fiddler on the Roof, Ebbs plays the defiant second‑oldest daughter.

"Hodel is strong‑minded, very smart, witty and not afraid to go against the grain," Ebbs says.

"It is truly magic, this show."

"I feel honoured and so grateful to be part of this show."

Hodel is a headstrong character. (Photo: Daniel Boud)

She did not expect to find her footing so quickly.

"Because this is my first main‑stage production, I was a bit intimidated at first," Ebbs says.

"I thought, ‘I have no credits and I’m joining veterans like Troy, Alexis and Sigrid.’"

"I wasn’t sure what the vibe would be, but on day one of rehearsal I was blown away by how humble the room was."

"Everyone is down‑to‑earth, no power hierarchy at all."

"Everyone is here to work and support each other. With a show like Fiddler that deals with heavy, emotional themes, it’s vital the company backs each other up."

One of Ellen Ebbs’s favourite parts is singing Matchmaker with her on‑stage sisters. (Photo: Daniel Boud)

She says her favourite moment is watching Sussman sing If I Were a Rich Man and she loves singing Matchmaker with the other daughters.

"Jordan Fein directed it as a feminist anthem – it feels like a punk‑rock anthem," she says.

"Singing it with Caity and Freya every night fills me with joy – shout out to them, they’re amazing."

Fiddler on the Roof is now playing at Theatre Royal Sydney and will soon tour Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

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