Pure joy, brilliant performances, and enough ABBA to make you want to dance in your seat. Mamma Mia! is exactly the kind of feel-good theatre we could all use a little more of.
Mamma Mia! at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow is the kind of show that reminds you exactly why musical theatre is so special. It is joyful, energetic and completely unapologetic about having a good time. From the moment the first ABBA song begins, the atmosphere in the theatre changes, and by the end, there was very little chance of anyone leaving without a smile on their face.
The story follows Sophie, a young woman living on a Greek island who is preparing to get married. After discovering her mother Donna’s diary, she invites three men from Donna’s past to her wedding, hoping to discover which one is her father. What follows is a wonderfully chaotic combination of romance, friendship, family secrets and, of course, some of ABBA’s greatest hits.
What I particularly loved about this production is that it never takes itself too seriously. There is a real sense of fun running through the entire show, but that doesn’t mean it lacks heart. Beneath the glitter, big musical numbers and comedy is a story about mothers and daughters, old friendships, love, regret and the strange, sometimes messy process of growing up.
Jenn Griffin was fantastic as Donna Sheridan, bringing both warmth and energy to a role that sits right at the heart of the story. Hazel Baldwin was a wonderful Sophie, capturing the excitement, uncertainty and determination of a young woman trying to piece together her family history.
A particular shout-out has to go to Lauren Woolf as Rosie. Her comedic timing was fantastic and she brought some brilliant moments of humour to the production. Rosie is such a fun character, and Woolf’s performance had the audience laughing throughout.
The entire ensemble deserves recognition too. There was a real strength across the cast, and that energy extended beyond the musical numbers. Even the scene changes felt like part of the performance, with the ensemble keeping the momentum going and ensuring there was never a sense of the action stopping. It is a small detail, but it made a big difference to the overall pace and energy of the show.
And then, of course, there is the music.
It would be almost impossible to choose a favourite ABBA moment because the show is packed with them. From Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia to Super Trouper and Voulez-Vous, the soundtrack is essentially one giant crowd-pleaser. There were moments when I found myself smiling before a song had even properly started because I knew exactly what was coming.
The set and costumes were another highlight. The colourful Greek island setting creates the perfect backdrop for the story, while the costumes add to the fun, energy and escapism of the production. Everything feels bright, polished and completely at home on the King’s Theatre stage.
What makes Mamma Mia! work so well is its simplicity. You don’t need to overthink it. You can sit back, enjoy the story, sing along in your head and allow yourself to have a genuinely brilliant night out. And sometimes that is exactly what theatre should be.
There was something particularly lovely about looking around the King’s Theatre, Glasgow and seeing people of all ages enjoying the same songs and the same moments. ABBA has a rare ability to bring people together, and Mamma Mia! understands that completely.
I went into the show expecting to enjoy myself, but I came out feeling genuinely uplifted. It is funny, nostalgic, romantic and ridiculously good fun — the sort of show where you leave the theatre still humming the soundtrack and wondering whether it would be socially acceptable to immediately put ABBA on in the car.
Mamma Mia! is not trying to reinvent musical theatre, and it doesn’t need to. It knows exactly what it is, embraces it completely and delivers an evening of pure entertainment.
In short, Mamma Mia! is joyful, infectious and impossible not to love. I left the King’s Theatre with a huge smile on my face, a head full of ABBA and absolutely no regrets about giving it five stars.
Mamma Mia! show runs at King’s Theatre until 29th August. Tickets here.