Take a chance on the fantastic touring production of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ ‘Mamma Mia!’, which features, what I would argue to be, the most phenomenal vocal talent I’ve had the pleasure of seeing live this year. Under Phyllida Lloyd’s watchful direction, this is certainly a show you shouldn’t let slip through your fingers!
Mamma Mia! is set on a Greek island and follows Sophie Sheridan and her mother Donna as they prepare for Sophie’s wedding to Sky, with a soundtrack based on ABBA. What Donna doesn’t yet know is that, in Sophie’s desire to find out her father’s identity, she invites 3 of Donna’s lovers from years ago to her special day. Will this end in a long-lost love being reignited, or a shipwreck, when all is said and done?
Jenn Griffin as Donna Sheridan was certainly the standout performer of the night, with her vocal talent being tremendously impressive and consistent – she was the perfect choice for such a demanding role.
Alongside Griffin was Hazel Baldwin as Sophie Sheridan, who too, put on a fantastic act. Her soft innocence and youthful eagerness were fun, though sometimes came off slightly cringeworthy, especially in the first scene with Ali (Rachel Seirian) and Lisa (Lex Richardson). Her chemistry with Sky (Samuel Downey) was relatively believable and sweet, though.
It would be a disservice to the show if I didn’t mention the hilarious friendship brought to the stage by Sarah Oates as Rosie and Sarah Earnshaw as Tanya, with their electrifying energy. Notably, Earnshaw’s ‘Does Your Mother Know’ with Pepper (Ashton Sharp) received roaring applause from the middle-aged ladies in the audience for its playfulness and raunchiness.
The fathers of the show, Simon Victor (Bill Austin), Arvid Larsen (Harry Bright) and Richard Taylor Woods (Sam Carmichael) worked well together and individually, bringing loads of laughs, smiles and tears for audience members.
The ensemble certainly kept up with the fast pace and buzz of the performance, with Anthony Van Laast’s sharp choreography giving everyone a chance to show off their strengths.
The set for the performance was minimalistic but beyond effective – with moving parts that seamlessly created new locations, thanks to the ensemble. I was initially hesitant about the striped blue and white backdrop, but it did a splendid job of simulating a Greek island’s atmosphere. Lighting complemented the set well, with lights helping to reflect the time of day and giving the audience a sense of genuine passing time.
Both acts started with the band playing several ABBA numbers, while a water-like screen shrouded the stage, which felt like a waste of time after everyone had just rushed to their seats, and more like an excuse to squeeze in as many songs as possible.
There were a few technical mishaps, including one of the lead’s microphones cutting out during a number and the band being significantly louder than the performers during several songs. However, these did not take away massively from the performance itself and are issues that often come with the territory of an opening night.
The costume and hair departments really went all out for this tour, with each cast member having several costume changes. Mamma Mia! blends modern elements with retro 80s style pieces, keeping it interesting for today’s audience without feeling overly dated or overly modernised. The way the show uses colour to represent emotion, time and class is refreshing, as it doesn’t pretend to be subtle, but isn’t out-of-place either.
I found myself smiling throughout almost the entire performance, and it’s evident that everyone involved in this production is having an absolute blast, which only made me ever more thankful for the music! Mamma Mia! is at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 16th September to Saturday 26th September, with tickets available at: https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/mamma-mia-2026 The UK & International Tour then continues until October 2027: https://mamma-mia.com/uk-and-international-tour
Reviewer: Natalia Prucnal
Reviewed:16th September 2026
North West End UK Rating: