Review: MAMMA MIA!, UK Tour

Brinkhoff Mogenberg

Mamma Mia! is a musical loved by millions, and the cast and creative team bring this electric story to life beautifully. Woven through classic ABBA tracks such as ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘The Winner Takes It All’, and the titular track ‘Mamma Mia’, is a story about love, friendship, motherhood, and growing up. The cast delivers on the feel-good factor whilst also tugging on your heartstrings.

Love is at the heart of this story, and the cast’s chemistry captures the romance, family, and friendship excellently. Jenn Griffin (Donna) and Lydia Hunt (Sophie) are captivating to watch. Griffin’s physicality is mesmerising, and whether she’s bounding round in ‘Dancing Queen’ or enchanting the audience from centre stage in ‘The Winner Takes It All,’ her commanding presence makes her an exceptional performer. She is vocally flawless, tackling the challenging ABBA melodies with ease and making Donna’s moments in the spotlight some of the best in the whole show. 

Hunt is equally enjoyable to watch, holding the audience’s attention from the first note she sings. She brings a playful and innocent energy to Sophie that perfectly epitomises a young woman in love. Her zest for life makes the audience root for her to find her happiness, whether that be through her marriage to her charming boyfriend Sky (Joe Grundy) or her search to find her father. 

Anthony Van Laast’s choreography is impressive, both visually and technically. The entire ensemble are strong dancers, resulting in beautiful sequences such as the Act One finale ‘Voulez-Vous’. The choreography brings the well-known songs to life with flair. 

Mark Thompson’s stunning costume design is one of the standout elements of the production. The costumes fit the easy breezy life on a Greek island, but the attention to details like colour elevate the costumes from simply beautiful to also incredibly clever. The costumes are fun and playful, and the iconic 70s jumpsuits that appear several times throughout the show make you want to get up and dance along with them. 

Thompson’s set is equally brilliant, transitioning seamlessly from indoor to outdoor spaces, and facilitating moments of intimacy and calm as well as the renowned musical numbers. Although some of the set changes felt slightly clunky, the set itself is beautiful, transporting you right to a picturesque hotel on an idyllic Greek island. 

This production will have you laughing, crying, and jumping out of your seat to sing, dance and thank the cast for the music. A must-see production of friendship, fun, and feather boas. 

****Four Stars

Reviewed by Anna Nichols

To purchase tickets, click here