Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham – until Saturday 10th October 2026
Reviewed by Chris Jarvis
5*****
I love to investigate the background before reviewing a performance and learned that the visionary producer Judy Craymer met Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus while working for Tim Rice in the early ‘80s when they were collaborating with him on the musical ‘Chess’. Craymer describes Abba’s songs taking her on a journey and she starts seeing them as a narrative for a story. Together with writer Catherine Johnson, and director Phyllida Lloyd, the threesome worked together to produce this female led show.
Their collaboration opened in London’s West End in April 1999 as an original stage musical using existing popular songs that fitted perfectly within a new original story. It was an instant success and has since become a record-breaking global phenomenon seen by over 70 million people worldwide, in 50 countries and 16 languages. This feelgood musical has resulted in two smash-hit films – Mamma Mia! in 2008 and a sequel Here We Go Again in 2018. Apparently, Craymer is currently working on a third movie using more of Abba’s huge playlist to complete the trilogy!
I was really looking forward to seeing this 2026 production of Mamma Mia at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall! I was lucky to see it on Broadway while in New York in 2003 where it had been running since it’s opening night on October 5, 2001 barely a month after “9/11”, following a brief pause in theatre productions after the unprecedented tragedy.
Tonight’s performance was truly spectacular on the wide stage of Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall. The Greek inspired set was simple, but real and effective, the music both uplifting or moving depending on the scene, the costumes were bright, colourful and crazy and went beyond your wildest imagination from wet suits and flippers to a beautiful and demure wedding dress.
The storyline centres on 20yr old Sophie (Hazel Baldwin) who secretly invites three former lovers of her mother, Donna (Jenn Griffin), to her wedding to Sky (Samual Downey) on a Greek island to find out which one is her biological father – what could possibly go wrong
The acting was incredible – it felt like the actors were their character and not acting as them. All the characters were a blend of genuine love and emotion with humour and there are numerous hilarious characters in the story. Donna’s best friends Rosie (Lauren Woolf) and Tanya (Sarah Earnshaw) made a comeback as their former band Donna and the Dynamos in vibrant sparkly jumpsuits, bell-bottom trousers, wide waist sashes and tall platform boots blasting out “Super Trouper” and other well-known Abba songs.
There were so many memorable scenes but one of my favorite’s was Tanya and Rosie trying to cheer up Donna after she realised Sam, Bill and Harry were all on the island 21 years after she’d last seen them. It was a hilarious romp around the bedroom singing “Chiquitita” – the words of which were surprisingly poignant raising her spirits enough to finish with a high energy rendition of “Dancing Queen”.
I also loved the priceless beach scene where cheeky young Pepper (Ashton Sharp) tries it on with thrice divorced Tanya who responds with a brilliant performance of “Does Your Mother Know” with some incredible dancing and acrobatics from other cast members and ensemble.
The music was brilliant though the initial loud blast at the beginning of each half was louder than usual with audience members startled into attention. The finale had everyone up singing and dancing and the enjoyment of the whole cast was palpable and spread throughout the audience.
Don’t miss this phenomenal performance which is on nightly with additional matinees until Saturday 9th October. Age recommendation 12y+, it has cross-generation appeal and even those who aren’t Abba fans will enjoy this heartwarming, exciting show that has had spectacular success in almost 3 decades and continues to collect new devotees.