Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! the world wide blockbuster show has been bringing the atmosphere of a greek island holiday to the London stage since 1999, now ever more popular since the release of a great musical film starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan.
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Mamma Mia is now taking bookings until 26 March, 2011.
| Contents |
| Mamma Mia Theatre Breaks |
| Mamma Mia! London |
| Mamma Mia – new cast |
| Mamma Mia! Theatre Breaks |
| Meryl Streep on Mamma Mia |
| Mamma Mia – the film trailer is here! |
| Cast Changes for Mamma Mia! |
Mamma Mia Theatre Breaks
Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia, the Abba musical, is 11 years old this month and it has become a firm favourite for theatre breaks. We went along to see the show recently and I can really see why it remains so popular. It was a terrific night out, full of fun, laughter and good music. We came out of the theatre surprised to find ourselves back in London, always a good sign.
Mamma Mia – it’s not the film
Well, we’ve all seen and enjoyed the film of Mamma Mia and the show transports us to that magical Greek island. This is done partly with a deceptively simple set and lighting effects but mostly it’s the acting and the music that transports us.
The show follows a slightly different tack to the film and concentrates a little bit more on the younger members of the cast. In the film Sophie (the daughter) and Sky (her fiance) are quite minor characters in many ways. On stage this changes and some of the most memorable songs are performed by these two.
It’s Abba but not as we know it.
The music is undoubtedly Abba and you do find that you tend to know all the words. The difference is that the songs have been transformed into musical theatre and suddenly you can hear the strength of the melodies and the power of the words. I’ve never been fond of Abba but I enjoyed the show immensely. For Abba fans, and there were quite a few of them there, it is total bliss.
The show is timeless and ageless
I was worried that the show might have dated but I shouldn’t have been. It still seems as fresh, fun and charming as it did when it opened. If you are old enough to remember Abba the first time around, you’ll love it even if you wouldn’t have been seen dead listening to something so ‘uncool’ at the time!
The costumes are fun, especially the Donnna and the Dynamites, Abba at it’s most kitsch ! The ensemble’s costumes in the hen night scene did find me occasionally wondering if I could revive some old 70′s favourites before common sense took over 
But what really impressed me was the age range of people enjoying the show.
Sitting next to me was an Indian lady who had brought her grandchildren, two delightful little girls (ages 6 and 8). They all loved the show and Grandma joined in with many of the songs! There were lots of children at the performance I went to and they were all very well behaved, perhaps because what was going on on stage really caught their attention. Even on a Monday night the cast were full of energy and fizz. They created a real party atmosphere and by the end of the evening everyone was on their feet singing, clapping and dancing along.
Mamma Mia! London
I went to see Mamma Mia! the London stage show last night at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Piccadilly and enjoyed the show immensely.
Jessie May as Sophie was captivating right from the opening scene and as soon as she opened her mouth the most beautiful sound came out, which then continued perfectly throughout the show. Having already seen the film version with Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosman, Julie Walters et al, the rather fanciful plot held no surprises but the London stage version portrayed the younger characters much more sympathetically than the slightly annoying americanised teenagers in the film. The set is very appealing in a rustic Mediterranean sort of way but it’s not the colours and lights that transport you to a Greek island, it’s the acting and the costumes.
Coming out of the theatre I was totally surprised to be dumped back into a somewhat chilly spring night on the dazzling streets of London Theatreland.
So I’d definitely recommend Mamma Mia for theatre breaks, and not just for single sex groups or Abba fans either. Anybody who remembers the 1970s or has dreamed of running away to a Greek Island, will have a great time at this so called “feel good show” that really lives live up to the promises.
Mamma Mia – new cast
Mamma Mia!
MAMMA MIA! at the Prince of Wales Theatre will have major cast changes from Monday 15 June 2009.
The Mamma Mia Cast list
- Sally Ann Triplett as Donna Sheridan,
- Katy Secombe as Rosie
- Jane Gurnett as Tanya.
- Norman Bowman as Sam Carmichael,
- Paul Ryan as Harry Bright,
- Christopher Hollis as Bill Austin,
- Niamh Perry as Sophie Sheridan,
- Oliver Hembrough as Sky,
- Jodie Read as Ali,
- Laura Selwood as Lisa,
- Ben Heathcote as Pepper
- Sam McKay as Eddie.
- Melissa Jacques as alternate Donna Sheridan
Some of the new cast members (Sally Ann Triplett, Katy Secombe and Norman Bowman) have good West End credentials.
Christopher Hollis is better known for his TV work (EastEnders, The Bill, A Touch of Frost)
Of course we’ll all recognise Niamh Perry as she was a finalist on I’d Do Anything on BBC One. She didn’t win the role of Nancy but she was very, very good. I think she’ll be excellent as Sophie.
Mamma Mia! Theatre Breaks
** book Mamma Mia! theatre breaks **
Mamma Mia! the stage musical is a world wide hit, playing in more theatres than any other show. London Mamma Mia theatre breaks give the chance for people from all over the UK to see this top quality hit musical in London’s West End where it’s been playing since 1999, (last century!).
This is the show which transforms the stage into a Greek Island complete with sunshine, ancient mythological analogies and water. Not to mention the fabulous ABBA anthems which really lift the spirit whether you think of yourself as a fan of Benny and Bjorn or not.
Mamma Mia Theatre Breaks
The best Mamma Mia Theatre Breaks packages consist of top tickets for the dates of your choice at the Prince of Wales theatre, luxury rooms in a plush central London Hotel and discount rail vouchers for travel from Birmingham, Manchester, Crewe, Bristol, Ipswich, Rugby, Glasgow, Portsmouth, Cardiff, Stoke, Ashford or anywhere on the UK rail network. Some theatre weekenders add London attractions too, like a London Eye Fast Track, Original Bus Tour or River Pass. Pre-theatre restaurant meals can be booked at the same time for those who like to know where they will eating, weeks in advance.
Hotels for Mamma Mia Theatre Breaks
The Hotel rooms availability and prices will vary depending on the dates you put in, but as a rough guide, previous Mamma Mia Theatre Breaks sensible customers have chosen:
- Strand Palace
- St Giles Hotel
- Holiday Inn Regents Park
- Kensington Close Hotel
- Holiday Inn Kensington Forum
- Ibis London Earls Court
- Holiday Inn Bloomsbury
- Grange City Hotel
- Leonard Hotel
- Hotel Russell
- Grange Langham Court Hotel
- Novotel London St Pancras
- Ramada Hyde Park
- Radisson SAS Portman Hotel
The Strand Palace is very convenient for Theatreland and also Charing Cross station while others are close to the great shopping centres and everything else that London has to offer.
Mamma Mia the Stage Show
The stage show version of Mamma Mia is not based on the story from the songs, nor is it a juke box musical or tribute show exactly, it’s an original romantic comedy story which cleverly weaves 22 of the famous Abba hits into the plot as the narrative unfolds.
Catherine Johnson wrote the book, the stage play script and it’s the same story in the film too. The cleverest part is the way this musical turns into a game in which the audience can’t help trying to guess which famous Abba song is coming next, as the plot sneaks up on and finally reveals one of the best known anthems. Are you ready to play the Mamma Mia game live in the theatre?
London Mamma Mia Cast Videos
Here’s the London cast from Mamma Mia on the X Factor, TV series.
The London cast of Mamma Mia! again at West End Live, London’s theatre showcase live event
And finally, an original Abba performance of The Winner Takes it All, one of the songs featured in Mamma Mia
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See also: Mamma Mia Theatre Breaks
Meryl Streep on Mamma Mia
Meryl Streep is a truly great actress who has been in so many brilliant films and I caught her on Friday night with Jonathan Ross talking about Mamma Mia the film amongst other things. The reason why I mention this on the London Theatre Breaks blog is because it was taking her own family to see the broadway production of Mamma Mia! the musical which turned her into a fan and made her very positive about acting and singing in the film.
The London production of Mamma Mia! the musical has been delighting audiences since 1999 and it’s an ideal show for group theatre breaks, families and parties for special occasions.
Mamma Mia – the film trailer is here!
Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! is one of the most popular shows in the West End at the moment and it is easy to forget just how good it actually is. It premiered in London in April 1999 and is likely to be given a boost by the opening of the new film version in a few weeks. You’d think that might put people off the stage version, but in fact the opposite is usually true. Once people see the film they often decide they want to see the original.
The book was written by Brit Catherine Johnson and music composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of Abba. It’s now the most successful musical on Earth. It has grossed more than $2 billion. There are currently 10 productions worldwide. People take theatre breaks in London, Berlin, and even Las Vegas just to see the different productions! More than 30 million people have seen it. Now even more will see the film.
Mamma Mia! the Movie
The film cost $65-million and stars Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. Like the stage show it tells the story of single mum and taverna owner Donna Sheridan, and her daughter’s search for her father. Streep plays Donna, and Brosnan plays one of Donna’s three old flames, one of whom might be the long lost dad, that show up for Donna’s daughter’s wedding.
The trailer for the Mama Mia film has just been released and here it is:
Mamma Mia in London
Currently Mamma Mia is playing at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Coventry Street. The theatre’s nearest tube station is Leicester Square or Piccadilly.
Here’s a delicious peep backstage with some of the London cast’s leading ladies:
Cast Changes for Mamma Mia!
There are cast changes for the hit musical Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre. The new cast will start performances on Monday March 3. Linzi Hateley will continue to head the cast as ‘Donna Sheridan’, with Joanna Monro as ‘Rosie’ and Jane Gurnett as ‘Tanya’. Richard Laing will play ‘Sam Carmichael’, Paul Ryan ‘Harry Bright’, Andrew Hall ‘Bill Austin’, Katie Brayben ‘Sophie Sheridan’, Oliver Hembrough ‘Sky’, Jodie Read ‘Ali’, Laura Selwood ‘Lisa’, Giovanni Spano ‘Pepper’ and Matt Wilman ‘Eddie’. At certain performances the role of ‘Donna Sheridan’ will be played by Melissa Jacques.
Thanks for reading Theatre Breaks articles about Mamma Mia! on the London Theatre Breaks Blog
