Mamma Mia! Proves That Some Things Really Are Better the Second Time Around

There’s always a little bit of a risk in going back to see a show you absolutely loved the first time. When I first saw Mamma Mia! at Artscape, I thought it was fantastic. The music, the energy, the humour, the dancing, the nostalgia… it was one of those productions that left you walking out of the theatre with a smile on your face.

So, naturally, when I heard it was back, I was excited. But I’ll admit, I had a few reservations.

Would it still have the same magic? Would I spend the entire evening comparing it to the first production? Would it feel like I was simply watching something I had already seen before? Turns out, I really didn’t need to worry. From the moment the show started, this Mamma Mia! felt like a completely new experience.

A little taste of Greece before the curtain even rises

One of my favourite moments actually happened before the show had properly begun. The theatre went dark, and instead of the usual announcement reminding everyone to switch off or put away their cellphones, we heard the message delivered in Greek. It was such a simple touch, but it immediately transported us into the world of Mamma Mia!. It was unexpected, playful, and a brilliant way to make the very first thing you heard feel like part of the production itself. And then… we were off to Greece.

A familiar story with completely fresh energy

Of course, the story we know and love is still at the heart of the show. Sophie is preparing for her wedding on a beautiful Greek island when she discovers that one of three men from her mother Donna’s past could be her father. Naturally, she does what any sensible bride-to-be would do and secretly invites all three of them to her wedding. Cue the chaos.

But Mamma Mia! is about much more than figuring out who Sophie’s father is. At its heart, it is a celebration of friendship, family, love, and, perhaps most importantly, the relationships between women. Donna and her best friends Tanya and Rosie have a friendship built over decades, while Sophie has her own support system in Ali and Lisa as she navigates the excitement and uncertainty of getting married. And I think that’s one of the reasons the story continues to resonate so strongly.

Meet Donna and the Dynamos

One of the things I was particularly excited about this time around was seeing what the new cast would bring to characters that already feel so familiar. Leading the cast as Donna Sheridan is Amra-Faye Wright, and she brings some serious musical theatre credentials to the role. Wright is perhaps best known internationally for her extraordinary run as Velma Kelly in CHICAGO The Musical on Broadway, where she performed the role for an incredible 23 years. She is joined as Tanya by Samantha Peo, who reunites with Wright after they previously starred together in the acclaimed 2005 and 2008 South African productions of CHICAGO The Musical. Cape Town audiences may also recognise Peo from her recent performances in The Addams Family: The Musical and A Little Night Music.

Completing Donna & The Dynamos is Lindy Abromowitz Sachs as Rosie, bringing her own impressive musical theatre experience to the role, with credits including Kinky Boots, Grease, and The Sound of Music. And this trio really works. There is an effortless sense of history and friendship between them, which is exactly what you want from Donna and the Dynamos. Their chemistry brings an added layer of fun to the story, while also reminding you that some friendships really do stand the test of time.

A new generation of Mamma Mia! takes centre stage

As Sophie, Leah Mari brings a fresh energy to the role. Mari has had an impressive run in South African musical theatre, having shared the lead role of Maria in My Fair Lady, performed in the ensemble of the 2025 production of CHICAGO The Musical and originated the role of Vivian Ward in the South African production of PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical earlier this year. She is joined by Jordan Rogers as Ali and Michelle Juncker as Lisa, who also previously appeared alongside Mari in PRETTY WOMAN.

The chemistry between the younger cast members adds another dimension to the story, particularly as Sophie navigates the excitement, nerves and occasional chaos of getting married while trying to solve the biggest family mystery of her life.

And that’s where having a fresh cast really makes a difference.

A new performer can completely change the way you experience a character. Different comedic timing, different chemistry, different vocals and even the smallest changes in delivery can make a familiar scene land in an entirely new way.

This cast absolutely makes these characters their own.

And then there’s the music…

You simply cannot sit through Mamma Mia! without being reminded just how ridiculously good ABBA’s catalogue is.

Dancing Queen.

Super Trouper.

Voulez-Vous.

Take a Chance on Me.

The Winner Takes It All.

Knowing Me, Knowing You.

I Have a Dream.

Song after song, you’re reminded just how effortlessly the music fits into the story.

There are moments when you want to sing along, moments that have the entire theatre laughing, and then, just when you’re having the most fun, a song suddenly hits you right in the emotions.

That’s the magic of Mamma Mia!.

It’s colourful, funny, energetic, and wonderfully over the top. But underneath all of that is a story about mothers and daughters, friendship, love, growing up, letting go, and figuring out who you are. And somehow, it manages to balance all of those themes without ever losing its sense of fun.

A production filled with South African talent

There is plenty of talent behind the scenes too. The musical is written by Catherine Johnson, with the South African production presented by Showtime Management and produced by Hazel Feldman. The costumes are by Birrie Le Roux, with Frances Moerdyk responsible for the wigs, while the production is directed by the distinguished Janice Honeyman. Honeyman is certainly no stranger to Mamma Mia!, having also directed the 2024 production, alongside an impressive list of other stage musicals including Sister Act, The Boys In The Photograph, Showboat and Little Shop Of Horrors.

The ensemble is equally impressive, featuring performers including Jemma-Claire Weil, Angelica Hattingh, Yethu Kibi, Nicolette Fernandes, Liyabuya Gongo, Shannyn Fourie, Tshego da Silva and Dance Captain Claire Boswell. It’s a production packed with South African theatre talent, both on stage and behind the scenes.

I went in curious. I left blown away.

That was probably my biggest surprise of the evening. I expected to enjoy the show because I already knew I loved Mamma Mia!. What I didn’t expect was to feel like I was experiencing it for the first time all over again. It never felt like, “Oh, we’ve seen this before.”

It felt fresh. It felt exciting. And, in some ways, I think I appreciated it even more this time around because I wasn’t focused on what was going to happen next. I could simply sit back, take in the performances, enjoy the humour, and let myself get swept up in the atmosphere. By the end of the night, whatever reservations I had going in were completely gone.

Should you see it?

If you saw the previous production and you’re wondering whether it’s worth going again, my answer is simple: absolutely. And if you’ve never seen Mamma Mia! live before, you’re in for a seriously fun night. The Cape Town run is currently taking place at the Artscape Opera House until Sunday, 11 October 2026, before the production heads to Montecasino’s Teatro in Johannesburg from Friday, 16 October until Sunday, 22 November 2026.

Tickets start at R250, depending on the performance, with prices going up to R580 for selected performances. There are also reduced ticket prices every Terrific Tuesday, while groups of 20 or more can access discounted group bookings.

Tickets can be booked through Showtime or Ticketmaster, which is the official exclusive ticketing agent for the production. If you’re planning to go, it’s worth booking through the official channels rather than purchasing from other suppliers.

Mamma Mia! is joyful, nostalgic, funny, emotional, and exactly the kind of theatre experience that reminds you why there’s something so special about seeing a musical live.

So grab your besties, dig out something suitably disco, and get ready for a few hours of ABBA, Greek islands, questionable wedding decisions, and plenty of dancing.

Mamma Mia! may be a familiar favourite, but this production at Artscape somehow manages to make it feel brand new. And honestly? I wasn’t expecting that. But I’m very glad it did.