The current eight-month tour of Mamma Mia! has just landed at Eastbourne, and the first night audience was clearly there to have a good time, thinking it knew most of the songs and joining in as appropriate, or occasionally inappropriate! It is the ultimate feel-good, “jukebox” show, and it is easy to see why it has been so successful wherever in the world it has been staged.
The stage version of Mamma Mia! predates the movie by eleven years, having been written by British playwright Catherine Johnson and first seen at the Prince Edward Theatre in 1999, since when it has been running in London almost continuously. It is a curiously structured show, having a first act which has long stretches of rather tedious dialogue, especially for those who are only there for the music, but a much more upbeat second half, which seems to have many more songs and consequently much less dialogue!
For those who do not know, the plot, such as it is, concerns 20-year-old Sophie, who is about to marry Sky. She would love her father to “give her away”, but does not know who that is until she discovers an old diary written by her mother, Donna, and realises that there are three contenders for the role (Sam, Bill and Harry), whom she promptly invites to the wedding on the Greek island of Kalokairi, where Sophie and her mother live. Many have commented on the fact that this plot bears a very close resemblance to the 1968 movie, Buona Sera, Mrs Campbell!
The 27-strong ensemble cast tackles the show with great enthusiasm. Lydia Hunt makes a sparkling Sophie and Jenn Griffin is very watchable as Donna, having a most attractive personality and singing voice, ‘One of Us’ in particular being memorable. Luke Jasztal is suitably romantic as Sam, his second half ballad (‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’) being one of the highlights of the show. Bill is enthusiastically played by Mark Goldthorp and Harry by the effervescent Richard Meek. Bridegroom Sky is very “laddish” in the hands of Joe Grundy and Father Alexander is wittily portrayed by William Hazell.
Adam Philpott is responsible for keeping Phyllida Lloyd’s now 27-year-old directing ideas fresh, even if the first act could benefit from more pace and Anthony Van Laast’s choreography looks impressive, especially the extended curtain call reprises, which send any audience home wanting more!
It is a shame that Mark Thompson’s set designs have been simplified for touring, compared with the West End production, but the 7-piece pit band, under Ashley Jacobs, plays enthusiastically: if only the sound balance in the first half did not favour the band so much, frequently swamping the singing (sound design Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken).
However, this is a show that audiences come not to criticise but to enjoy, and clearly did at the performance I witnessed! Everyone has seen the movie, perhaps several times, and knows the songs, so just sit back and relax!
Recommended – an excellent night out by the sea in what is still one of England’s best seaside resorts! (Parking is free as well!)
Review by John Groves
Fall in love with the irresistibly funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless songs. The worldwide phenomenon has now been turned into two record-breaking movies – MAMMA MIA! The Movie and MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again.
Whatever age you are, you can’t help but have the time of your life at MAMMA MIA!
Lydia Hunt – Sophie Sheridan
Bibi Jay – Ali
Eve Parsons- Lisa
Sarah Earnshaw – Tanya
Rosie Glossop – Rosie
Jenn Griffin – Donna Sheridan
Joe Grundy – Sky
Joseph Vella – Pepper
Ethan Casey-Clothier – Eddie
Richard Meek – Harry Bright
Mark Goldthorp – Bill Austin
Luke Jasztal – Sam Carmichael
William Hazell – Father Alexander
Ashleigh Jones (Alternate Donna), James Brice, Aled Davies, Ryan Ebbrell, Erin-Sophie Halliday, Marisa Harris, Natorii Illidge, Jay Jobarteh, Sarah McFarlane, Rachel Oates, Cameron Sutherland, Richard Vorster, Maisy Wignall – Ensemble
Brook Blackford-Jenkins, Rebecca Donnelly, Jacob Morrish, Megan Speirs (Dance Captain) – Swings
Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus – Music and Lyrics
Catherine Johnson – Book
Phyllida Lloyd – Director
Anthony Van Laast – Choreographer
Mark Thompson – Production Designer
Howard Harrison – Lighting Designer
Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken – Sound Designers
Martin Koch – Musical Supervisor, Additional Material and Arrangements
MAMMA MIA!
Congress Theatre Eastbourne, 14 to 19 July 2026
Tour continues to 30 January 2027
