One of the most well-known and well-loved musicals, Mamma Mia! is a fabulous choice for feel-good fun.
We went and reviewed it on its press night at the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham. It’s currently on a UK and international tour, with the last UK date in January 2027 (mamma-mia.com).
If you’re looking for October events in Nottingham, Mamma Mia! is playing at the Royal Concert Hall until October 10 (from £31.50pp, trch.co.uk). For more reviews like this, subscribe to receive our articles in your inbox for free.
Mamma Mia! at Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham theatre review
★★★★
By Charlotte Brudenell
Photos by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
Who doesn’t love two and a half hours of pure camp fun with loads of ABBA? Mamma Mia! has to be one of the most iconic musicals out there – it has been running in London for over 27 years, making it the third longest-running musical in West End history. In addition, it has had a successful 15-year run on Broadway and has also embarked on multiple international tours.
Mamma Mia! has won an Olivier Award, as well as being nominated for multiple Tony Awards. The 2008 film won 16 awards, including a Grammy and a Golden Globe.
Written by the two male members of ABBA, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, alongside Catherine Johnson, the musical follows the story of Sophie (Hazel Baldwin), who lives on a Greek island with her mum, Donna (Jenn Griffin). Sophie is about to get married, but wants her dad to walk her down the aisle. The only issue is that she doesn’t know who her dad is, so she invites all three possible fathers to her wedding. And, to make it even more fun, all of the music is ABBA’s greatest hits.
From the start of the show, you instantly know you’re in for a treat. Sophie Sheridan enters the stage and starts singing I Have A Dream, which then quickly melts into the bubbly and fun Honey, Honey. The songs are really what make the show. I think because they’re such well-known, loved songs, it makes it all the better. Even those who aren’t a big fan of musicals would enjoy this show because the songs are so beloved. I’d even say it’s a good introductory musical for those who haven’t really seen one before.
It could be argued that some of the songs seem crowbarred into the show, just so they could fit a particular song in because the writers wanted it there. At some points, it also feels like it’s just one song after another, and you don’t really get a chance to breathe and take a break to take in the song that’s just been performed. It doesn’t flow as well as sung-through musicals due to the style of the music, and the dialogue breaks are necessary to the plot. Apart from this, I think it adds to the overall ‘campness’ of the musical; it doesn’t take itself seriously, and the show is just a bit of silly fun regardless.
This moves on to the work of the ensemble. Words cannot describe how impeccable the ensemble was. They really stood out to me. The big numbers requiring the entire ensemble were my favourite. Not only did their singing give me chills, but Anthony Van Laast’s choreography made their dancing look seamless, and they filled the stage perfectly.
The casting overall was so good. Everyone fit their roles so well, and the cast has clearly gelled wonderfully. In particular, the casting of Tanya and Rosie (Sarah Earnshaw and Lauren Woolf), Donna’s best friends, was impeccable, and they were so funny whenever they were on stage, especially during Dancing Queen and Chiquitita.
Additionally, the costumes were perfect. They fit the Greek Island Y2K aesthetic perfectly, and I love how they haven’t been changed since the show opened in an attempt to modernise the musical. It’s perfect as it is and made me reminiscent of the clothes of my childhood, which seem to be coming back into fashion now!
One of the things I didn’t love so much was the set. The background is a garish blue wave backdrop, made to mimic the sea, I assume. However, it hurt my eyes throughout the whole musical, and I found it distracting due to the bold colours. It also seemed to make the show feel darker.
In my opinion, a show set on a Greek island should be bright and sunny, not a bit dark and dingy. The actual set was also a bit lazy, in my opinion. Usually I do like a minimalist set, but this time round it just didn’t work well enough. Maybe it would have looked better if the backdrop and wings were brighter overall.
This show really is a blast. It’s a great night out and is the perfect way to forget your worries for a couple of hours and be immersed in a whimsical and lighthearted world of ABBA, lycra, and platform boots.
Mamma Mia! is playing at the Royal Concert Hall until October 10 (from £31.50pp, trch.co.uk) and is currently on a UK and international tour, with the last UK date in January 2027 (mamma-mia.com).
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