Birmingham Hippodrome – until 30th May 2026
Reviewed by Emma Millward
5*****
Set against the sun-soaked backdrop of the Greek island Kalokairi, Mamma Mia arrived at the Birmingham Hippodrome with all the warmth, humour and catchy songs that have made the musical a worldwide favourite. Since premiering in London’s West End in 1999, the show has become a global phenomenon. It continues to delight audiences with its feel-good storytelling and iconic ABBA soundtrack, featuring music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, with a book by Catherine Johnson.
At the heart of the story is Sophie Sheridan (Lydia Hunt), who is preparing for her wedding to Sky (Joe Grundy). She secretly invites her three possible fathers to the island. Hunt brings a youthful excitement to the role with strong vocals throughout. Jenn Griffin also shines as Sophie’s mother, Donna Sheridan, bringing vulnerability and sharp comic timing. Her chemistry with Sarah Earnshaw as Tanya and Rosie Glossop as Rosie creates some of the evening’s funniest scenes. Together, the trio bring a real sense of friendship to the stage, making their interactions feel natural. Equally, Sophie’s friendship with her best friends, Ali (Bibi Jay) and Lisa (Eve Parsons), captures the excitement and nerves surrounding wedding preparations.
The three potential fathers soon arrive on the island, much to Donna’s dismay. Richard Meek gives Harry Bright a gentle awkwardness. Luke Jasztal adds emotional depth as Sam Carmichael, particularly during Sam’s more sincere moments with Donna. Mark Goldthorp brings an easygoing charm to Bill Austin, and often steals scenes with his West Country humour and storytelling, while Rosie and Bill’s developing romance also provides unexpectedly tender but hilarious moments. Tanya’s flirtatious exchange with Pepper (Joseph Vella) and Eddie (Ethan Casey-Clothier) adds a layer of mischievous humour, with Sarah Earnshaw and the ensemble embracing the light-hearted chaos of holiday romances. Their performance of ‘Does Your Mother Know’ is a standout number with perfect comic timing, as Tanya confidently takes centre stage and teaches those younger men a thing or two!
Phyllida Lloyd’s direction ensures the production maintains a lively pace throughout. Anthony Van Laast’s choreography keeps the stage bursting with movement and energy. Mark Thompson’s sun-drenched production design perfectly captures the carefree holiday atmosphere, with colourful costumes and vibrant lighting transporting the audience straight to an idyllic island setting.
Musically, the show rarely slows down. Songs including ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Lay All Your Love on Me’ and Jenn Griffin’s powerful rendition of ‘The Winner Takes It All’ in particular were met with huge audience enthusiasm, with the live band (led by Carlton Edwards) keeping the familiar score vibrant and lively. This is the first musical I have seen where they displayed ‘No Singing Along’ signs before the show began, prompting a few disappointed sighs from audience members.
Beneath the glitter, platform boots and disco hits is a story about relationships, family and the passing of time. If the show occasionally prioritises fitting in another beloved ABBA number over narrative momentum, it hardly matters when the audience is clearly having such a good time. By the time the encore arrived, the theatre was transformed into a full celebration, with dancing, cheering and the entire audience on their feet. The crowd were quickly encouraged to sing along for the finale.
Mamma Mia at Birmingham Hippodrome delivers exactly the kind of theatrical escape audiences crave. It is energetic, uplifting and irresistibly entertaining. To paraphrase ABBA’s own lyrics… My, my, what a show!