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THE
STORY
STORY
Mamma Mia – West End
Theatre
Novello Theatre
Duration
155 minutes
Age Restrictions
6+ years
There had been jukebox musicals before Mamma Mia! – The Buddy Holly Story charted the spectacled singer to stardom and Return To the Forbidden Planet set a sci-fi spoof to 1960s rock and roll – but it was the one that kickstarted a trend. In 1999, at the behest of super-producer Judy Craymer, the playwright Catherine Johnson concocted a plot that strung a chunk of ABBA’s back catalogue together into a musical score. The result was something new and nostalgic at the same time – and more than 60 million have seen it since, even before one accounts for the film that followed with Meryl Streep in the title role.
Set on the Greek island of Kalokairi, Mamma Mia joins 20 year-old Sophie as she’s gearing up for marriage. Desperate for her father to walk her down the aisle, she first has to find out who he is. After digging around in her mother’s old diary, she identifies three potential candidates – each an old flame (“Honey Honey”) – and so invites them all along without telling her mother.
Read MoreDonna, meanwhile, is getting ready with her best girlfriends when, one by one, the three men waltz back into her life: Sam, an American architect; Bill, a British banker and Harry, an Aussie writer and adventurer. Each comes as a surprise: “Mamma Mia,” sings Donna. Not even she knows who Sophie’s father is.
It sets up a tangled emotional second half, as old resentments resurface and old flames rekindle, and ABBA’s best tunes take on new meanings. Knowing Me Knowing You becomes a song about reconnections, and The Winner Takes It All, one about regrets. Sophie’s secret plan sends her fiancé, Sky, into a fury and, finally, Donna agrees to walk her daughter down the aisle. When the wedding gets started, however, it doesn’t all go to plan.
Since made into a film, starring Meryl Streep as Donna, Mamma Mia has proved a West End evergreen – a big favourite with hen parties. It’s innovative form spawned a decade’s worth of copycat jukebox musicals, but few managed to marry pop songs and storylines as seamlessly.
Or, indeed, as enjoyably. Mamma Mia’s big strength is in loading so many anthemic tunes into a single show: Money, Money, Money, Chiquita and Super Trouper – all the way through to I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and I Have a Dream. Book your Mamma Mia Tickets today!
Mamma Mia – Reviews
CAST
CREATIVE
CREATIVE
Cast and Creative
Cast
Lucie May Barker – Sophie Sheridan
Melissa Nettleford – Ali
Sophie Matthew – Lisa
Mazz Murray – Donna
Kirtsy Hoiles – Tanya
Ricky Butt – Rosie
Richard Trinder – Sam
Cameron Burt – Sky
Danny Nattrass– Pepper
Taylor Bradshaw – Eddie
Neil Moors – Harry Bright
Stephen Beckett – Bill Austin
Richard Trinder – Sam carmichael
Creative
Judy Craymer – Producer
Benny Andersson – Music & Lyrics
Björn Ulvaeus – Music & lyrics
Catherine Johnson – Book
Phyllida Lloyd – Director
Anthony Van Laast – Choreographer
Mark Thompson – Production designer
Bobby Aitken – Sound designer
Martin Koch – Musical supervisor
Richard East – Producer
INFO
Mamma Mia – London
Mamma Mia Tickets
Choose your seats via our live booking platform. Once payment is completed, you will receive an email confirmation with your booking reference number and eTickets.
Upon arrival at the venue, display the eTickets on your phone or show the box office a printed ticket.
Which Theatre
Mamma Mia the Musical is showing at the Novello Theatre at 5 Aldwych, London WC2B 4LD.
Any Questions
If you have questions about your ticket purchase, contact our customer services team on 020 3670 8887 or message us via LiveChat on each show page.
Good to Know
Strobe lighting is used several times during the musical show.
Age Recommendation
For ages six and above.
Can I Video or Take Photos?
Using a camera and/or sound recording equipment is prohibited in the Novello Theatre.
