MAMMA MIA! at Theatre Royal & Concert Hall Nottingham Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Katy Nettleton
I’ll be honest – I have never watched the Mamma Mia! film. Like everyone, I knew a handful of the ABBA songs, but I took my seat at the Royal Concert Hall with no idea how the story would unfold. It turned out not to matter one bit, and I followed every twist without feeling I had missed anything.
Jenn Griffin as Donna has an extraordinary voice. Every time she sang, the hall fell so quiet you could have heard a pin drop, and I found myself wishing I could hold even one note the way she holds an entire song and the audience. Her performance is big and theatrical, as it needs to be in a venue this size, yet it never feels false. Her One of Us was brilliant, but The Winner Takes It All was the real showstopper for me. I was glued to the stage from the first line, completely caught up in the emotion of it, and her performance and voice in that moment were simply amazing. She carries the story with real warmth, and by the second half she had the whole audience in the palm of her hand.
Hazel Baldwin is a perfect Sophie. Her singing suits the role beautifully, and she plays her with such natural honesty that the character feels like someone you might actually know. The scenes between mother and daughter were among the most moving of the night.
Then there is Lauren Woolf as Rosie, who was pure excellence. Her facial expressions alone had people around me laughing out loud, and the way she plays off the rest of the cast and lands every line made her a joy to watch. Her voice is terrific too, and what impressed me most was that she never lets Rosie become just a punchline. There is a softer, more sensitive side to her journey that shines through. Sarah Earnshaw completes the trio of old friends as Tanya, while Richard Taylor Woods, Simon Victor and Arvid Larsen round out the story as the “three possible dads”.
The standard of dancing and interpretation throughout was brilliant. It is fun, energetic and a little giddy, and when each big number ended the audience stayed fixed on the stage, almost reluctant to let it go. The set is simple but clever, leaving room for the cast to own the stage, and the costumes are fabulous, each one suiting its character perfectly.
What really struck me was the balance. Little jokes run all the way through, drawing genuine belly laughs, and they sit right alongside twists that are raw and emotional. That contrast pulls you into the whirlwind of the story, and the show grows in confidence and feeling as it goes. It is just the right length, too just over 2 hours.
And then the finale. I won’t give it away (for those who like me, had never watched the film!), but there is a chance to sing along at the end, and the whole place came alive. People were still singing as they made their way out, and the standing ovation was thoroughly deserved.
A note for families: there are some grown up themes, so I’d suggest it suits ages 14 and over, though every family knows their own children best.
I arrived after a hard day at work and left reminded that life is for living. Mamma Mia! makes you feel every feeling going and shows just what musical theatre can do when it is done this well.
Rating: 5 out of 5 (5/5)
Tickets cost from £31.50
Mamma Mia! is at the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham from 29 September to 10 October 2026, for more information or to book tickets visit www.trch.co.uk or call the box office on 0115 989 5555
Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham NG1 5ND