Theatre News

Mamma Mia! Moves from Prince of Wales to Novello, Sep 2012

ABBA musical Mamma Mia! will make the move to its third West End home when it transfers to the Novello Theatre from 6 September 2012.

The smash hit musical, which was written by Catherine Johnson and composed by former ABBA members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, opened in the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre in April 1999 before transferring to its current home at the Prince of Wales in June 2004.

The production had previously been booking until 20 October 2012 at the Prince of Wales. It will now play its final performance there on 1 September 2012. Mamma Mia! has grossed over $2 billion worldwide and was immortalised on film in 2008 starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth.

The musical follows the story of Donna, a forty-something single mum, who recalls memories of distant carefree days on the eve of her daughter’s wedding. To discover who her father is Sophie brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

Mamma Mia! includes ABBA hits such as “The Winner Takes It All”, “Money Money Money”, “Dancing Queen”, “Chiquitita”, “Voulez Vous”, “S.O.S”, “Thank You for the Music”, “Knowing Me Knowing You” and, of course, title song “Mamma Mia”.

Since opening in the West End, the musical has gone on to become something of a global phenomenon with 11 productions currently playing around the world. These include productions on Broadway, Las Vegas, Shanghai and an international tour. It has been seen by more than 50 million people in over 300 cities and translated into 14 languages.



An artists impression of the Novello Theatre with Mamma! Mia hoarding


The West End cast is currently led by Sally Ann Triplett as Donna Sheridan, Joanna Monro as Rosie and Kim Ismay as Tanya, with William Tapley (Sam Carmichael), Oliver Senton (Harry Bright), Mark Gillis (Bill Austin), Dani De Waal (Sophie Sheridan), Craig Fletcher (Sky), Hannah Fairclough (Ali), Rachel Sargent (Lisa), Warren Sollars (Pepper) and Alex Jessop (Eddie).

The West End show is directed by Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken. Musical supervision, additional material and arrangements are by Martin Koch.

Mamma Mia! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Bjorn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

Currently playing at the Novello Theatre, the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park’s production of 1992 Broadway musical Crazy for You opens on Monday (17 October, previews from 7 October 2011) where it is initially booking until 28 July 2012.