First look rehearsal images of the company of MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY with images of the moment Bjorn Ulvaeus entered the Taverna for the very first time. Construction is still underway at the specially adapted venue within The O2 London, but it won't be long until Nikos can open the doors to his Taverna on 29 August.
MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY is set in a Taverna on the island of Skopelos, where most exteriors of the first MAMMA MIA! film were shot. Nikos and his wife Kate run this exotic and wonderful restaurant together with their family and friends. Told through dialogue and ABBA songs, a warm, romantic and funny story evolves and unfolds during the evening, taking place around the guests as they sit at their tables enjoying a delicious Greek meal. The evening ends with the main floor transforming into a 1970s disco, where audience members are welcome to stay to sing and dance to original ABBA recordings.
The London cast includes Fed Zanni as Nikos, Steph Parry as Kate, Joanna Monro as Debbie, AJ Bentley as Adam, Julia Imbach as Kostantina, Elin Konig Andersson as Bella, Kimberly Powell as Nina, Pauline Stringer as Grandma, Gregor Stewart as Fernando, with Linda John-Pierre playing Debbie at certain performances and Allie Ho Chee playing Bella at certain performances. Also in the cast are Molly Cleere, Jessica Spalis, Dawn Spence and Matthew Wesley. The musicians will be John Donovan, Luke Higgins, Kathryn Tindall, Steve Rushton and Mark Pusey.
MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY has music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (some songs with Stig Anderson), and a story by Calle Norlén, Roine Soderlundh and Bjorn Ulvaeus, adapted for the UK by writer, comedian and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig. It is produced by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Ingrid Sutej for MM! The Party Ltd.