West End show review: Mamma Mia! The Musical on its 23rd birthday at the Novello Theatre London
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- Published on Saturday, 09 April 2022 11:21
- Last Updated on 08 April 2022
- Monica Costa
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On Wednesday 6 April 2022 I was invited to celebrate the smash-hit Mamma Mia! The Musical 23rd birthday at the Novello Theatre London, including a pre-show party with Easter Egg Hunt and Dress Up photo shoots. I took my lovely friend Jo who is an ABBA super fan and who was over the moon about the whole event despite having seen the show three times in the past 23 years and knowing all songs by heart.
I am not a super fan although I interviewed Andy Garcia and met all the cast of Mamma Mia Here We Go Again movie a few years ago, reviewed the ABBA exhibition and attended the Mamma Mia the Party before. I know the songs and I enjoy dancing to ABBA tunes but I am a rock chick at the core. However, the musical is joyful, frivolous and incredibly energetic. You leave the show feeling happy an smiley. Jo and I shared a few tear-jerking moments when the melancholic songs were playing.
Mamma Mia! Left to right: Josie Benson as Tanya, Mazz Murray as Donna & Gemma Goggin as Rosie in MAMMA MIA! Credit Brinkhoff Moegenburg
ABBA musical Mamma Mia! had its world premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999 – 23 years ago on 6 April 2022. The show then moved to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004, and finally to its current home at the Novello Theatre in 2012, the heart of the West End.
To celebrate, the show has announced that it is extending its booking period at the Novello, and is now booking to Sunday 5 March 2023.
Producer Judy Craymer who attended our pre-show party told the press that: “When we opened the show back in 1999, I never imagined we’d still be here 23 years later! It shows the love the public hold for this feel-good musical set on a sunny Greek island. It is joyous and positive – something we all need right now. MAMMA MIA! is the original Girl Power musical about four amazing, strong females – and with a creative team to match!”
Last month Mamma Mia! also hit another milestone, with its 9,000th West End performance, and the London production has been seen by over 9 million people.
Mamma Mia! Left to right: Josie Benson as Tanya, Mazz Murray as Donna & Gemma Goggin as Rosie in MAMMA MIA! Credit Brinkhoff & Moegenburg
The London cast features Mazz Murray as Donna, Josie Benson as Tanya, Gemma Goggin as Rosie, Richard Trinder as Sam, Neil Moors as Harry, Stephen Beckett as Bill, Emma Mullen as Sophie, Jack Danson as Sky, Tegan Bannister as Ali, Sophie Matthew as Lisa, Michael Nelson as Eddie and Alexandros Beshonges as Pepper, with Natalie Langston playing the role of Donna at certain performances.
Mamma Mia! Alexandros Beshonges as Pepper (front centre) with the cast of MAMMA MIA! Credit Brinkhoff & Moegenburg
Also in the cast are Natasha Agnew, Chloe Ames, Gemma Atkins, Chloe-Jo Byrnes, Nicole Carlisle, Angus Good, Natalie Jayne Hall, Lauren Hampton, James Humpleman, Morgan Jackson, Frankie Jones, Grace Moorhouse, Jodie Nolan, Dan O’Brien, George Olney, Michael Storrs, Kyle Turner, Amy Thiroff, Michael Tyler, Simon Willmont and Alex Woodward.
Mamma Mia! has music and lyrics by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.
Book tickets to Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre.
Novello Theatre
Aldwych
London WC2B 4LD
Ticket Prices: from £17.50 (All prices include a £2.50 per ticket booking fee and £1.50 restoration levy)
Early Bird Pricing – anyone booking four months or more in advance of the performance they are attending (Monday to Thursday performances only) will save £20 on Band A and Premium tickets, but only through Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, either online or by calling the Novello Theatre Box Office.
Performance Times:
Monday, Wednesdays – Saturdays 7.30pm
Matinees – Thursdays & Saturdays 3.00pm, Sundays 2.30pm*
*extra 3pm matinee on Monday 3 October 2022 & Monday 2 January 2023; extra 3pm matinee on Wednesday 3 & 17 August & 26 October 2022 & on Wednesday 15 February 2023; no matinee on Thursday 6 October 2022 or Thursday 5 January 2023; no performance on Sunday 9 October 2022
Christmas 2022/23 Performance Schedule
Monday 19 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Tuesday 20 December NO PERFORMANCE
Wednesday 21 December 7.30pm
Thursday 22 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Friday 23 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Saturday 24 December NO PERFORMANCE
Sunday 25 December NO PERFORMANCE
Monday 26 December 7.30pm
Tuesday 27 December 7.30pm
Wednesday 28 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Thursday 29 December 3.00pm and 7.30pm
Friday 30 December 7.30pm
Saturday 31 December 2.30pm and 7.00pm (please note earlier times)
Sunday 1 January 2023 NO PERFORMANCE
Currently booking to 5 March 2023
The performance lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)
Box Office: 0844 482 5151
Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
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