Twopenny Theatre

Sometimes you want drama, and sometimes you just want to dance. The latter is the ethos of Mamma Mia!, which in its 26th year in the West End still has plenty of pep in its step.

On a sunny Greek isle, twenty year-old Sophie (Izi Maxwell) is about to be married to her childhood beau, Sky (Ben Irish), and she wants her father to be there. The catch – no one, including her mother Donna (Mazz Murray), is sure who that father is, given Donna’s three whirlwind flings 21 years prior. So why not invite all three and see if Sophie can figure it out (without her mother knowing, of course)?

Yes, this is a little contrived, and no, that’s not such a bad thing, given this jukebox musical’s main purpose is to be a vehicle for pop group ABBA’s greatest hits. To the extent that this longtime ABBA fan can be objective, that makes its soundtrack one of the catchiest and cheeriest in London (conspicuous signs around the theatre remind patrons not to sing along.) Paired with the appropriate level of campiness (a dance sequence with the ensemble in fluorescent scuba gear starts the second act), the show has proven crowd-pleasing appeal.

In a pleasant surprise, Mamma Mia! doesn’t take this goodwill for granted – it’s better than it has a right to be. Part of the credit is due to Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (the B&B of ABBA)’s knack for writing scene-setting lyrics, which transfer easily from the mind’s eye to the stage. Part also is due to the carefully-choreographed comedy, with unabating flirty humour that will force a smile from all but the most stoic of le public.

But the true lifeblood of the show is the cast, and in particular Murray, who takes what is by all accounts a rather silly musical and gives it real emotional range. In the role of Donna since 2019, she applies her sensational voice to extract the maximum amount of feeling from the lyrics, from the parental vulnerability of “Slipping through my Fingers” to the defiant “The Winner Takes it All” (back-to-back!). Any scene with her or the members of her old band “Donna and the Dynamos”, Tanya (Kate Graham) and Rosie (Nicola-Dawn Brook), is a hit. Dancing Queens they are, particularly in the encore.

Can Mamma Mia! last for another generation? Maybe not, but the fact it continues to fill houses 45 years past ABBA’s heyday shows it’s got plenty left in the tank. With island vibes, knockout soundtrack, and sunny disposition, Mamma Mia!’s well worthy of going “On and On and On” for years to come. 

Rating: ★★★★

The Best Deal: Tickets from £30 for a limited time via See It Live in 2025. Otherwise book direct from the theatre here, with discounts for families and early bookings.