A sun-kissed, faraway Greek island. A mother, a daughter, one wedding, three possible dads. An old diary leads a bride-to-be on a discovery quest about her history, revealing unspoken stories along the way. What could go wrong?
A familiar premise, as beloved jukebox musical MAMMA MIA! descends into The National Theatre in St Kilda, Melbourne, for a strictly limited season. Brought to life by renowned executive producer Andrew Gyopar and AG Entertainment (3 Little Pigs, Avenue Q), MAMMA MIA! presents a luminescent affair overflowing with joy, soundtracked by instantly recognisable ABBA tunes.
This high-energy, feel-good musical boasts a brilliant, electrifying ensemble cast overflowing with excellence. From the get-go, it’s clear this talented group of performers is having the time of their lives on stage. Precise movements, assured voices, every number sharply executed; together they manifest a jubilant world that feels playful and full of life.
Bek Chapman leads the pack with remarkable emotional depth. A consummate professional, her portrayal of Donna Sheridan is grounded and nuanced.
She carries the show with grace, vulnerability and humour, navigating Donna’s complex struggles, the calamities surrounding her daughter’s wedding, the unwelcome arrival of three old flames, and finally coming face-to-face with the consequences of long-forgotten choices.
Belle Parkinson is truly effervescent as Sophie, perfectly capturing the character’s youthful optimism. Her bright, crystalline voice conveys Sophie’s curiosity, confusion and longing.
Jesse Vasiliadis exudes cool confidence as city-lad-turned-island-boy Sky, as he finds himself increasingly tangled in the wedding saga, wondering where he stands.
Sophie’s hilarious run-ins with her potential fathers – chipper architect Sam (Sam Anderson), carefree adventurer Bill (Luke Stephens), and high-strung banker Harry (Shannon Foley) – feel natural and believable, as she gets closer to each of them, examines her own life story, and starts questioning her decisions.
Dynamic duo Tanya (Sasha Hennequin) and Rosie (Antoinette Davis) are absolute scene-stealers as Donna’s best friends and one-time backing singers.
Thankfully, they both get their time to shine in the second act. Hennequin’s sassy, sultry Tanya exudes radiance in her solo performance of Does Your Mother Know (always my personal favourite), while Davis brings all the laughs as she awkwardly seduces Bill with her charm, shimmying through Take a Chance on Me.
Under the leadership of Director Pip Mushin, this victorious local revival of MAMMA MIA! leaves a distinctive mark, remaining largely faithful to the original. It energetically spotlights all the best elements of Judy Cramer’s vision, paying it respect whilst succeeding in adding a fresh, contemporary flair.
The vibrant colours of Kalokairi as the backdrop to this timeless tale comes to life through original set design by Sally Martin, exquisite scene dressing by Ella Campbell, and costume design by Karen Spencer.
Impressive, cohesive choreography by Adriana Pannuzzo enables each performer to embody their best self, complemented by Ian Scott’s luminous lighting design.
At the centre of it all are ABBA’s timeless, iconic tunes. Musical Director Kent Ross ensures every song, every lyric, every pulsating beat – the heartfelt I Have a Dream, free-spirited Dancing Queen, epic The Winner Takes It All, raucous Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – come together as the beating heart of the story, weaving seamlessly into the narrative.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house during Slipping Through My Fingers. Donna and Sophie share a tender mother-daughter moment as flashbacks of their younger selves prance around the set, a solemn time capsule of days gone by.
Despite subtle displays of opening night jitters and slight pacing issues in the second act, the show was largely a roaring success. By the time classic fan-favourites Super Trouper and Waterloo rolled in during the encore – the cast donning colourful sequins and dazzling platform heels – the entire theatre was on our feet, blissfully dancing along, breaking into rapturous applause.
Resplendent, uplifting, and triumphant, MAMMA MIA! feels like exactly the kind of show the world needs right now. It provides a brief escapism into a world filled with joyful optimism. It is a gentle reminder that while we often search for meaning in faraway places, the clarity we need and want has been right in front of our eyes all along.
If you crave a wondrous evening that lifts your spirit, warms your heart and leaves you humming all the way home, make the trip to see MAMMA MIA! for yourself. It is an utterly delightful showing!
MAMMA MIA! is presented by AG Theatre, and runs to 8 March 2026 at The National Theatre. 20 Carlisle Street St Kilda Vic 3182.
Tickets: https://booktickets.com.au/mammamia/
Website: https://nationaltheatre.org.au/mamma-mia/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/agtheatreproductions/
Photo credits: Natalie Edge Photography
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2 responses to “Review: Mamma Mia! Brings Dancing Queen Energy To Melbourne”
Great review ! I am sitting in the audience at interval and loving every minute of this production! Well done Pip Mushin and all the cast and crew for delighting me !The National always provides top quality productions. Well done👏👏👏👏
Absolutely blown away after seeing Mamma Mia! So much talent and and so well done! I did not want to leave and want to see it again and again! Cannot recommend this show enough! Such a brilliantly done musical and absolutely amazing casting! Everyone needs to see this!