Review: Mamma Mia! brings sequins, nostalgia and power of community to Abu Dhabi
There's a visible shift that spreads across an audience during Mamma Mia! – one that goes from shy engagement to full-bodied joy, as if muscle memory has kicked in and everyone suddenly remembers the words to Dancing Queen.
That collective response, so reliably evoked by this long-running musical, raises a deeper question: what purpose should a stage show serve once it has crossed the threshold from hit to institution?
Since its West End premiere in 1999, the Abba -fuelled jukebox musical Mamma Mia! has gone from being a breakout success to a shared cultural memory. It is a show so familiar to some in the audience, that they often collectively hum the songs before the curtain even rises.
The version currently playing at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, part of an international touring production, is a case study in what it means to stage something so popular and loved. The challenge does not lie in execution. By now, Mamma Mia! has been honed to a fine commercial polish: the touring cast hit their marks, the lighting cues are crisp and the music is performed with faithful gusto. It is, in every sense, a successful production.
The more interesting question is whether that success should still be measured in technical proficiency or whether – once a musical enters the cultural canon – the more pressing task is to find something new within it.
While bobbing my head along to the familiar tunes, I couldn't help but think: should a show such as Mamma Mia! change? Or perhaps more accurately: for whom must it change? That may not be Mamma Mia! 's burden to bear. Classics endure for a reason, but as the musical celebrates more than two decades of sold-out runs and repeat performances, it invites some reflection: how do we keep something alive without embalming it?
This Abu Dhabi run delivers what audiences expect: escapism, warmth, glitter and the familiar groove of Abba songs. The plot, in which a young bride named Sophie invites three of her mother Donna's former lovers to her wedding to discover who her father is, remains secondary to the soundtrack.
While the dialogue is breezy and the stakes are gentle, the emotional architecture still has the potential to surprise. In this version, that potential is most visible in Steph Parry's Donna, whose rendition of The Winner Takes It All resists melodrama and leans into a more controlled devastation.
It's a performance that momentarily lifts the show out of its party-dress expectations and into something more raw and grounded – a vulnerability I've always found hard to locate in Meryl Streep's otherwise formidable interpretation in the film adaptation.
Also deserving of mention is Ellie Kingdon's Sophie, played with a disarming sincerity and vocal clarity that gives the character both weight and warmth. Donna's longtime friends and former bandmates, Tanya and Rosie (brought to life with magnificent flair by Sarah Earnshaw and Nicky Swift) inject the production with verve, comic precision and impeccable timing. Their presence offers a necessary counterbalance to the show's emotional currents, and their scenes together offer pure enjoyment.
These are performances likely shaped by experience rather than invention, but maybe that's the point. In a play so well-known, elevation doesn't always mean transformation.
For me, having seen Mamma Mia! multiple times, including when it came to Dubai in 2021, the broader production felt like it was playing too close to the template at points. There was a smoothness to the staging that, while admirable, felt cautious. Even some of the more spirited numbers, such as Voulez-Vous or Does Your Mother Know, were energetic but stopped short of fully surrendering to the moment.
However, for audiences seeing it for the first time, as many in Abu Dhabi could be, the show remains a revelation. The story's optimism, the undeniable power of hearing Abba sung live – these things still have the capacity to feel fresh, especially when encountered without the weight of prior viewings. In that sense, the production is doing precisely what it needs to: making the old feel new again for someone else.
I attended the opening night, and the venue was near capacity. A decade ago, such productions arrived sporadically in the UAE, often met with curiosity rather than fervent demand. But in recent years, the frequency and reception of large-scale international musicals suggest a cultural shift is underway. It seems the capital is not just importing musicals, but also nurturing an audience for them.
The show's final encore, a sequinned celebration of Dancing Queen and Waterloo was a beautiful shared moment between the cast, the crowd and even this critic. It was at this point – hands raised, lyrics mouthed back in unison – that Mamma Mia! reminded me why it endures.
The production's staying power lies in its ability to gather strangers and turn them, at least temporarily, into a community. Is it a sign of theatre culture taking root in the UAE? I'm excited even just by the idea of it.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
K-Food supporters officially appointed at inaugural ceremony at Korea 360
The inaugural K-Food supporter appointment ceremony 2025 captivated audiences on June 15 at KOREA 360, Dubai Festival City Mall. The event welcomed 40 K-Food supporters, poised to champion Korean culinary delights across the UAE. A major highlight was an exclusive cooking show led by acclaimed celebrity Chef Choi Hyun-seok, renowned for his appearances on Netflix's 'Culinary Class Wars.' Chef Choi shared his expertise, demonstrating the finesse and flavors that make K-Food globally beloved. The ceremony also featured the formal awarding of certificates of appointment to the K-Food supporters. This was presided over by Chef Choi Hyun-seok, Consul General Lee Beomchan, and AT Center Dubai Director, Yong Pil Jeon. The event integrated live participation with overseas supporters joining remotely from Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, via a dynamic conference call. Attendees received a comprehensive introduction to the K-Food Supporter Program, gaining insights into its mission, guidelines, and exciting future initiatives designed to promote Korean cuisine. All 40 supporters were also given official merchandise and exclusive giveaways, reinforcing their role in this vibrant culinary movement. 'This is a special day. Today, we are welcoming all of you as official K-Food Supporters. You are not only fans of Korean food, but also friends who will help us share Korean culture in the UAE,' stated Yong Pil Jeon. 'We believe that with your help, more people will discover the joy of Korean food.' This ceremony marks a significant step in strengthening cultural ties through the universal language of food.
The National
18 hours ago
- The National
My Dubai Rent: Content creator considers buying home he has rented for past four years
My Dubai Rent takes you inside a reader's home to have a look at what they get for their money, how much they pay in rent and asks them what they like and don't like Four years after first renting a villa in Dubai as a temporary base, Jordanian content creator and gamer Bibi Zumot is considering buying the property in Damac Hills 2. Mr Zumot, who has 35,000 followers on social media, has transformed the two-bedroom villa into a gaming-themed haven to serve as both his home and a creative space for content production. The 29-year-old pays Dh180,000 ($49,000) a year to live to live there. He invited The National into his home to show us why it's so special to him. Why did you choose to live here? I had spent most of my life in Al Ain with my parents. After graduating from college and securing a job in Dubai, I decided to move. First I was sharing an apartment with a friend, and four years ago I started looking for a quiet place. I looked at several villas but this was the best. I've been here ever since, and I'm thinking seriously about buying it. I do content on social media platforms and streaming to followers when I play games from the villa. It's a quiet area that helps me to focus on my content creation, plus it's accessible for deliveries. You couldn't wish for any better. What do you get for your money? It is a spacious two-bedroom villa, with a kitchen and big living room where you can have friends over. The location is perfect as I can easily drive for 20 minutes to reach my work in Dubai Media City. The community is nice and there are friendly neighbours. The compound is secure with gates and very good maintenance. It is a good choice for families and professionals looking for affordable homes with a modern touch. Is there much around where you live? There's a variety of restaurants and a supermarket. It is close to the Al Qudra desert and Global Village too. There is a lot of greenery and parks for a walk, as well as a gym. How have you made the apartment feel like home? Being a gamer and content creator, I used a gaming theme. One of the rooms is just for streaming and making videos. I used a pop culture theme inside the villa with decoration, pictures and paintings. I'm a bachelor and don't cook, so I rarely use the kitchen. Is there anything you would change about where you live? Nothing major, but the only problem is it's a bit far from the city. It has well-connected highways but there was no delivery services when I first moved here. Things have changed since the community grew.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
'First teacher': Dubai's royal family hail Sheikh Mohammed on Father's Day
We all love our parents, and while we are pampered by our mother's love, it is our father we look to for guidance. As the UAE celebrated Father's Day 2025 on Saturday, June 21, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council (DMC), and Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, wrote touching tributes to their father Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. "I learned from my father that giving is a value that makes life flourish.. and that responsibility does not mean a position.. but rather the ability to give," Sheikh Hamdan wrote in a post on X. "From his wisdom we derive our strength.. and from his words we draw our determination.. and with his vision we move forward with confidence and reassurance towards a more beautiful tomorrow, God willing," the Dubai Crown Prince added. Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed said they were raised to believe that "building a person is more important than building a structure." "At Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid School, we were raised to believe that fatherhood is a message and a responsibility... and that building a person is more important than building an urban structure... and the father remains the support and role model... and the truest story told throughout life," Sheikh Ahmed said. Sheikh Mansoor called Sheikh Mohammed his "first teacher." "On Father's Day, we remember the great role fathers play in building people and shaping nations. A father is not just the head of a family; he is the first teacher and an inspiring role model. I learned from my father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, that a true father is one who instills values before words and leads with actions before words. Happy Father's Day," he said. Meanwhile, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, said: "Every year, you are my source of strength and support, my inspiration and the light that I follow."
