Director finds family ties raises roof in 'Fiddler' production.

ONE of the things that makes Fiddler on the Roof such an enduring tale is the music.

"It's the musical of the people. For all that the songs are great, they're really simple. There's no great operatic figure in there. It's just ordinary people singing songs about their culture," says Ashleigh Downes, who will be playing the role of Tzeitel in the Cape Town Gilbert and Sullivan Society's staging of Fiddler on the Roof at Artscape Opera House from September 9 to October 1.

"I love the music, I haven't got bored of a single piece," she says.

This is the young performer's first turn on the musical theatre stage.

"I'm loving working on Fiddler. It …