Mamma Mia extends booking to April 2015 & celebrates 15th birthday

The West End production of Mamma Mia has extended its booking period at the Novello Theatre until Saturday 25th April 2015. The musical celebrates its 15th birthday in London on Sunday (6th April).

Kim Ismay, Dianne Pilkington & Jane Milligan

As we previously revealed, Abba's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, who have rarely performed together since Abba disbanded in 1982, will join the cast of Mamma Mia in a musical finale at this year's Olivier Awards. This historic performance will be televised as part of the highlights show, being broadcast on ITV at 22:15 on Sunday 13th April.

Interview: Oliver Tilney, currently playing Sky in Mamma Mia

Oliver Tilney graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2012 and went on to make his West End debut as Sky in Mamma Mia at the Novello Theatre in June 2013 as part of the show’s biggest ever cast change. Last August Oliver was nominated for West End Frame’s Best West End Debut Award, finishing third place.

His theatre credits include: Banquo in Macbeth directed by Paul Warwick (China Plate Theatre, UK tour), Captain Phoebus in The Hunchback of Notre Dame directed by David Calvitto (Selby Abbey, Belt-Up Theatre), Oliver in Some Small Love Story directed by Joseph Hufton (Flanagan Collective, South Hill Park) and The Improvised Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

Oliver’s film credits include: Sam in The Lake directed by Sukhdeep Krishan, Andrew in Brothers in Arms directed by Pekka Saari and Francis in Francis directed by Philip Crawford. He also stars in the international 'swap' commercial for Coke Zero. 

Mamma Mia has been seen by more than 54 million people in 38 productions in 14 different languages grossing more than $2 billion at the box office. The West End production has now been seen by more than 1 in 10 of the entire UK population. Mamma Mia is one of only five musicals to have run for more than 10 years both on Broadway and in the West End.

Oliver chats to West End Frame about life in Mamma Mia, having his first dance lesson at the age of 23 and how he deals with hen parties asking him to take off his clothes at the stage door…

How is life in Mamma Mia?

Great! It’s going really quickly, I’ve never done anything for this length of time before.

How have you found that? Is it hard keeping your performance fresh eight shows a week?

That hasn’t really been a problem yet, which has surprised me because I thought it would be tough. In a West End show there are so many people involved and so many understudies so from night to night there could be six or seven different people performing on stage which keeps you guessing! You can always find new things. If you’re not quite happy with something you get plenty more opportunities to get it right!

Review: Mamma Mia at the Novello Theatre

Mamma Mia

Novello Theatre

Reviewed Friday 10th January 2014

Mamma Mia is quite simply one of the most underrated shows in the West End. Jukebox musicals are sometimes pushed aside, but as Mamma Mia prepares to celebrate its fifteenth anniversary it remains smooth, slick and hugely uplifting.

VOTE: Best West End Debut 2013

The voting period has now ended, click here to view the result!

Every year many actors join their first West End show so our latest award is a celebration of some of the most spectacular West End debuts which have been made over the past year. Nine incredible actors have been nominated, some of whom are established performers and some who have only recently graduated from drama school.

Voting for Best West End Debut opened at opened at 2pm on Friday 16th August and must close at 3pm on Thursday 29th August 2013. The result will be announced on Friday 30th August and you can preview the result (after voting) until Sunday 25th August.

Best West End Debut is part of the 2013 West End Frame Awards. Unlike other theatre awards West End Frame only opens voting for one category at a time. Best West End Debut follows Understudy Of The Year, Best Performance of a Song in a Musical and Best Jukebox Musical. Last year's Best West End Debut Award was won by Shayne Ward who made his West End debut as Stacee Jaxx in Rock Of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Kimberley Walsh (Princess Fiona, Shrek) came second and Adam Pettigrew (Boq, Wicked) came third.