11 minute read
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! More Mamma Mia!
WORDS LIANE MORRIS | FEATURES WRITER
IMAGES PETER STOOP
Slip on your platform boots and say a big “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” to Newcastle’s next big night out, because Mamma Mia! is set to light up the Civic Theatre this October. Celebrating 25 dazzling years of standing ovations around the world, the ABBA-fuelled musical promises romance, comedy, and a whole lot of disco-tinged joy. In short: the party of the year is about to hit town, and everyone’s invited.
Since its debut in London’s West End in 1999, the exhilarating smash hit has become a global phenomenon, thrilling over 70 million people worldwide. The sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter, and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless pop masterpiece, has also inspired two record-breaking films: Mamma Mia! The Movie and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Now it’s Newcastle’s turn once again. Featuring 22 ABBA songs performed live, Mamma Mia! will wow audiences at the Civic Theatre from 11 October in a strictly limited two-week season. Demand has been so overwhelming that six shows have already sold out, one is down to limited tickets, and producers have added a final extra performance on Sunday, 26 October at 1pm to cope with demand.
“It’s pure joy from start to finish,” says producer Daniel Stoddart, CEO of Stoddart Entertainment Group (SEG) and Artistic Director of The Very Popular Theatre Company (VPTC).
“An explosion of music, love, and nostalgia that will have everyone dancing in the aisles. With its unforgettable ABBA hits and heartwarming story, Mamma Mia! is the perfect celebration of theatre, and I can't wait for audiences to experience the magic, energy, and fun that we know this production brings to the stage.”
Australia has always had a special relationship with ABBA. From the frenzy of their 1977 tour, immortalised in ABBA: The Movie, to record-breaking runs of Mamma Mia! across the country, our stages and hearts have never stopped singing along.
In 2019, VPTC brought Mamma Mia! to Newcastle to mark its 20th anniversary, right on cue. The production was embraced wholeheartedly, sweeping up multiple City of
Newcastle Drama Awards (CONDAs), including Best Musical Production, Excellence in Choreography (Rachel Wilson), Best Supporting Female Actor in a Musical (Angela McKeown), and the coveted Best Ensemble Award. Judges praised it as “a rollicking, infectious, colourful romp that had audiences dancing in the aisles and standing in ovation.”
Six years later, the company returns to celebrate the musical’s silver jubilee with even bigger ambition.
“The last season was such a joy,” Stoddart says. “Newcastle truly embraced it like the big party it is. This city loves to celebrate, and Mamma Mia! is the ultimate celebration. We all need to laugh, dance, and let loose a little right now, and there’s no better way to do that than with the world’s most loved feel-good musical.”
The VPTC’s production operates on a proam model—a hybrid that combines the polish of professional performers and creatives with the energy and heart of emerging local actors. It’s a model that’s proving essential for regions like Newcastle, bridging the gap between community theatre and the fully professional industry.
“This model is so important,” says director Erin James, who also helmed the 2019 production.
“It gives young performers and emerging artists skills that they can’t develop in any other way. Just seeing the professional actors work, witnessing their process, is invaluable. It builds connections across the industry and makes theatre less elitist.”
Despite SEG now staging major professional touring productions, the pro-am model is still important to Stoddart.
“Education is at the heart of everything we do,” he said.
“Newcastle doesn’t yet have a professional theatre industry, but we’re working tirelessly to change that. Our region is full of incredible talent, and while many of them have not yet worked professionally, giving them the chance to be part of a high-quality, professional standard production is invaluable.
“These experiences allow them to refine their craft, showcase their talents, and learn what it means to work in a professional rehearsal room and production process. Most of them have day jobs, but through this process they get a glimpse into what would be expected if they made the leap into full-time professional work. That opportunity to learn, grow, and understand the industry is priceless.”
And the benefits extend far beyond the stage.
“Almost 10% of our audiences come from outside Newcastle,” he explains. “That means a real tourism boost to the local economy. Restaurants, hotels, and the night economy all benefit. People often don’t realise that these shows are actually created right here. They cost over a million dollars to stage and set the benchmark for live theatre in the Hunter.”
SEG also ensures performers are recognised for their efforts.
“We’re very proud to be in a position to offer all of the cast a small financial remuneration for their contribution,” Stoddart adds. “This will be the first time a local company has done this on a mainstage Civic Theatre show since Les Misérables in 2001. Our ultimate goal is to pay fully professional rates, and we’re working hard toward that.”
Erin James, whose directing credits include Chess starring Silvie Paladino and David Harris, and Superstars with Marina Prior and Chloe Zuel, and who is Head of Music Theatre at the University of Adelaide, brings deep experience to the role. But even with the familiarity of directing
Mamma Mia! before, she sees this production as something brand new.
“It’s a different cast,” she says. “We’ve taken the skeleton of last time and filled it with new people, new energy. Same story, but it brings an invigorating lift that’s wonderful to see and experience.”
For James, the show’s appeal is eternal. “How could you not love this music? Our family has had a long affiliation with it; our kids can sing every word. This is a show that you can’t leave without a smile on your face. It’s the very definition of feel-good theatre.”
Is it daunting to return to such a beloved production? “Always,” she admits.
“There’s a lot of expectation, but it’s not just about success. It’s about supporting and encouraging everyone involved - hundreds of people, from cast and crew to costumes and set. What I love about theatre is that we all come together with a common goal: to tell the story in the best way possible.”
At the heart of this year’s production is Erin Cornell, stepping into the iconic role of Donna Sheridan for the first time. A Victorian College of the Arts graduate, Cornell has played leading roles across the globe, from Grizabella in Cats to Elphaba in Wicked (Japan). She’s also appeared on The Voice Australia and continues to pursue her singer-songwriter career.
“Donna is so colourful and layered,” Cornell says. “She’s imperfect, earthy, hard-working, and authentic. I feel like I can give her integrity and portray her with care and understanding. And the songs she gets to sing are a singer-actor’s dream.”
Her love of ABBA runs deep.
“Let’s just say I had an ABBA-themed birthday party when I was ten,” she laughs. “I went as Agnetha, of course. My friend and I would dress up as ABBA most weekends, get her brothers to hold torches as spotlights, and sing their songs all day long. It’s been a long love affair.”
Playing opposite her as Sam Carmichael is Matt Edwards, a WAAPA graduate whose credits include Cats (The Really Useful Company), My Fair Lady (Opera Australia), Scooby Doo Live! (Life Like Touring) and who toured professionally with Mamma Mia! in 2017–18.
“In that production I was in the ensemble, covering Sam and Bill,” Edwards recalls. “After a year with the show, I felt a strong connection to the characters. It’s nice to revisit Sam eight years later, with more life experience.”
He describes Mamma Mia! as “pure joy to work on. You finish with the Megamix, the audience is on their feet singing and dancing, and you leave the theatre every night in a great mood. It’s exhilarating.”
Rehearsals have been a unique process for both Cornell and Edwards, who live interstate and have been flying in for intensive rehearsal periods.
“It was an immediate connection with the cast,” Cornell says. “Especially The Dynamos and the dads. Matt and I were already friends from Cats, so the trust and chemistry were instant.”
“The other dads are wonderful. The show relies on their friendly, bantery relationship, and I think we established that very quickly,” adds Edward.
Both share a fond offstage memory: during a past Cats tour, Cornell, Edwards, and his wife (also in the cast) spent months together as off-stage swings.
“Erin became an honorary member of our family planning committee,” Edwards laughs.
“She was there for every conversation about where to live, baby scans, and even names. She probably knew more about our birth plan than some relatives!” original master tracks, so everything you hear is exactly like the albums. It feels like you’re listening to ABBA.
“The music endures because the lyrics speak to everyone,” he says. “The themes are universal. And the women’s voices - Agnetha and Frida - are iconic. Everyone of a certain generation knows those voices.”
For Wilson, the highlight is accompanying Cornell in The Winner Takes It All.
“People are going to be astounded by her voice,” he says. “In fact, Erin and I are working on a little surprise that will hopefully be released around the time of the show.”
And if audiences sing along? “For the most part I’ll smile,” he says.
“I love seeing people knowing every word, because you know, ‘You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life!’”
With a cast of 31 performers, including 19 young people in the ensemble, and 15 performances across just two weeks, Mamma Mia! is set to be one of the city’s biggest cultural events of 2025.
If ABBA is the secret star of Mamma Mia!, then Musical Director Dan Wilson is its custodian. Head Teacher of Creative & Performing Arts at Lambton High School, Wilson has decades of experience conducting productions and concerts, including Mary Poppins, Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, School of Rock, Jesus Christ Superstar and most recently SUPERSTARS, which is now a concert series. Dan has arranged music for artists such as Silvie Paladino, Marina Prior, Debra Bryne and Emma Pask and served as Musical Director for concerts celebrating Alanis Morissette, Phil Collins, and ABBA. He was also Musical Director for VPTC’s 2019 Mamma Mia!
When asked if this year’s production would feature a live band, Wilson laughed and said, “Abbasolutely! Nine musicians and four keyboard players, which for me is heaven. The parts are transcribed directly from ABBA’s
“It’s one of the biggest social events on the Newcastle calendar,” Stoddart says.
“These shows shine a national spotlight on the energy and talent buzzing out of our city. We’ve raised the bar since 2019 with new enhancements, but here’s the reality: there are only around 1,000 seats left across the season. It could be a decade before Newcastle gets another chance to see this show. This isn’t just a musical; it’s Newcastle’s ultimate party to get you ready for summer.”
Or, as director Erin James puts it: “It’s the very definition of feel-good theatre. You can’t leave without a smile on your face. The last ten minutes are all singing, all dancing, a complete endorphin rush."
As the Civic Theatre prepares to welcome thousands of fans, Mamma Mia! offers more than just a jukebox of ABBA hits. It’s a story of love, laughter, family, and friendship. It’s also a showcase of Newcastle’s growing theatre scene - its talent, its ambition, and its ability to stage world-class productions right here at home.
With tickets flying and an extra performance added, the message is clear: Newcastle is ready to dance, jive, and have the time of its life.
So dust off your sequins, warm up your vocal cords, and get ready for an unforgettable night. Because when it comes to theatre that’s as heartwarming as it is exhilarating, Mamma Mia! is the winner that takes it all. Visit www.mammamianewcastle.com.au for more info and tickets!
