Hopefully, we all had a diva in our lives growing up. For those of us who didn’t, Alexis Sakellaris’ A Stan Is Born! is a tuneful solo musical celebrating diva devotion and queer self-discovery with charm and sparkle. This autobiographical show follows Sakellaris’ journey from closeted childhood in New York to rural Germany, where Céline Dion, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé become surreal, glittery lifelines offering guidance and sass. Performed live on keyboard, the original songs are catchy (if not always lyrically memorable) but Sakellaris’ charisma and vocal strength carry the hour. The production is intimate yet effervescent, drawing the audience into a world where pop icons are mentors and growing up queer means learning to embrace the fabulous ‘you’.

An unapologetic embrace of diva culture and the strength found in ‘stanning’ (a term for a mega-fan) powerful women. It gently lampoons toxic masculinity while celebrating the transformative power of female role models for young queer people. Though the show could push further into its playful potential, it remains a heartfelt tribute to pop fandom and identity. With guts and a wink to every theatre kid and pop obsessive, Sakellaris reminds us that the diva within is the one worth listening to most.

A Stan Is Born!, Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose, until 24 August, 3pm.