REVIEW: A STAN IS BORN @ THE OTHER PALACE

🎭 A Stan is Born

📍 The Other Palace Studio, 12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA

🗓 Saturday 17th January 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

STAN-DOM AS SURVIVAL

There is something inherently delicious about the way a queer child finds sanctuary in a diva. Whether it's the vocal acrobatics of Whitney or Mariah, or the sheer theatricality of Céline, these icons provide a glittering armour for those of us growing up in worlds that feel a little too grey. In A STAN IS BORN Alexis Sakellaris takes this universal queer experience and serves it up with a side of sharp wit and impressive ivory tickling.

Sakellaris is a formidable presence. Moving from the frantic energy of New York to the stultifying quiet rural Germany as a child, he recounts his "fish out of water" (or rather "diva out of the disco") origin story with a self aware wink.

I personally feel that the show is at its strongest when Sakellaris is behind the keyboard. He is certainly a gifted musician, and his ten original songs are pastiches of pop royalty that manage to be both parodic and genuinely catchy. His "Stan-dom" isn't just a hobby - it's a survival mechanism, and he conveys that desperation with a camp, frantic energy that is hard to resist.

The Other Palace Studio provides an intimate cabaret feel that suits the material, allowing Sakellaris to lock eyes with his audience as he deconstructs the psyche of a super-fan. There is a raw, fringe-style honesty here that balances the high octane comedy.

However I couldn't help feeling that the production - much like a young pop princess's debut album - could benefit from a slightly tighter edit. While the anecdotes of German life are amusing, the narrative momentum dips between the musical numbers. At times, the transition from high camp hilarity to the more poignant reflections on identity felt a bit abrupt, leaving the audience to play catch-up with the emotional stakes.

That being said, Sakellaris's charisma is absolutely undeniable. He possesses that rare ability to make a room full of strangers feel like they're in on a very fabulous private joke. A STAN IS BORN is a love letter to the women who raised us from the radio, and while it's still finding its final polish, it marks the arrival of a performer who clearly knows how to command a stage.

For those of us who spent their youth practicing "I Will Always Love You" into a hairbrush, this is a night of nostalgic, glitter-flecked joy. A star isn't just born here - he's already planning the world tour.

There's no denying that Sakellaris was born to be on the stage. His magnetic, chaotic personality is mesmerising, and I adored his singing voice. I could listen to him singing all day long.

A STAN IS BORN has finished performances at The Other Palace, but has plays next month at the Seven Dials Playhouse before heading out to play in Australia. Visit Alexis's linktree for all his tour dates, listen to his music, and find out more about him.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of A Stan is Born was gifted by Distrikt Communications who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

WRITTEN BY AND STARRING:

Alexis Sakellaris

RUNNING TIME (approx):

55 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Bad language; References to homophobia

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

12 +

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