Everyone knows that Cambridge is home to more than its fair share of theatre kids. Barely a day passes at the ADC Theatre without a new performance from the hordes of students desperate to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Emma Thompson or Ian McKellen. However a recently surfaced video has revealed that Cambridge’s links to amateur dramatics are present and blossoming within the highest ranks of the university. Extending, indeed, as far as pro-vice-chancellor Graham Virgo.

In the video from 2012, Virgo is seen performing the show tune ‘If I Were a Rich Man’ from the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof, whilst wearing a black and red cape. The small audience is heard laughing whilst Virgo belts out the catchy number. Throughout the performance, Virgo stomps his feet and dances with his cape with a level of vigour that may prompt some jealousy from Cambridge’s musical theatre societies.

The performance is not entirely faithful, with Virgo often deviating significantly from the original script of the Jewish classic.

Virgo sings an abridged version of the tune and replaces whole verses of Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Brock’s original. Virgo’s own additions include his promise that “All day long I’d count up all my gold”, and his aspiration to have “servants to wait on me hand and foot” with “fine wine to drink and plenty of food to eat”.

Virgo’s triumphant number originates from the 1964 Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof, which has spawned five Broadway revivals and a 1971 film adaptation. It is based on Sholem Aleichem’s book, Tevye and His Daughters; Virgo plays the titular character of Tevye. The musical tells the story of Tevye, as he tries to maintain Jewish traditions against outside influences as his daughters attempt to marry for love.

Virgo performs the tune as part of the Gamlingay Players, a local amateur dramatic group of which Virgo is the vice-chair. The group’s website explains that their members “all share a common interest — the love of theatre”. The players will be performing a pantomime this Christmas — it is unclear whether the pro-vice-chancellor will be starring once again.