A Stan Is Born is an absolutely delightful tale of one person, and how they found who they are.
Alexis Sakellaris has a complex family history. Born in New York City, as a young child, his family moved to semi-rural Germany.
Alexis was already beginning to discover a love of musicals and female divas, and there is none of that in a country where he also doesn’t speak the language.
Thorough spoken sections, and ten self-penned songs, Alexis takes us through their life to date. They also explain what the term ‘Stan’ means, and where it comes from. It means that someone is a huge fan; usually of a piece of media, or a specific person. Just think of ‘Swifties’, Taylor Swift’s army of fans, and you’re getting the idea.
Alexis takes us through the people they have stanned during their life so far: Celine Dion; Madonna; Beyonce, amongst others.
As Alexis grows up, the horrors of High School make themselves known, and Alexis begins to experience the loneliness of growing up queer. There are moments in German, with no translations offered, but the tone of delivery tells you everything you need to know about how Alexis was treated as he tried to keep his sexuality hidden.
Trying to stay friends with the boys in his school as he tries to hide himself, and the things he likes, is ultimately pointless: Alexis is rejected by his peers and told to go and hang out with the girls, if he likes them that much. It’s a very strange, but very accurate representation of a teenage notion of heterosexuality whereby the girls that teenage boys profess to like and be obsessed with, are in reality, horrible to those very same girls.
And so Alexis joins the girls, and finds friends, and interests that align, and learns more about themself. It’s a joyous ending to a story in which Alexis learns that no diva exists in a vacuum, and you can stan yourself! You can be your own champion, and that being queer is powerful.
A lovely story, beautifully told, with some very funny moments, and toe-tapping songs, A Stan is Born is a delight of a hidden gem at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and well worth seeking out.
A Stan Is Born continues at the Gilded Balloon Patter House, at 15:00 daily, until August 25 (not 11).
Featured Image: Photo by Sami Sumaria, courtesy of Chloe Nelkin Consulting
