By Naushad Khan
If you are an ABBA fan, there is really only one thing you need to know about MAMMA MIA! at Artscape Theatre: you absolutely have to see it.
I attended the Cape Town opening night, and from the moment the first notes rang out, it was clear that this was going to be an ABBAlicious evening. The packed theatre was soon clapping, singing along and quite literally jiving in their seats as one unforgettable ABBA hit followed another.
But MAMMA MIA! is much more than a collection of great songs. At the heart of the production is a beautifully crafted story of love, friendship, family and the search for identity, set against the sun-drenched backdrop of a Greek island. The cleverness of the musical is in the way the ABBA songs are woven into the storyline. Each song feels as though it belongs exactly where it has been placed, moving the story forward while giving audiences another opportunity to enjoy a familiar favourite.
And then there is the cast.
The producers, Showtime Management, have assembled some of South Africa’s finest performers to bring this much-loved musical to life, and they deliver with energy, confidence and plenty of personality. The performances are supported by a production that is colourful, vibrant and packed with the kind of high-energy theatricality that keeps the audience engaged from beginning to end.
What impressed me most was the atmosphere in the theatre. There was a wonderful sense of collective enjoyment as generations of ABBA fans rediscovered songs they have loved for decades, while younger audiences were introduced to the music in a spectacular live setting.
By the final curtain, there was no doubt that Cape Town had embraced MAMMA MIA!.
It is joyous, energetic, funny, romantic and irresistibly catchy. You leave with a smile on your face and, almost certainly, an ABBA song playing in your head.
ABBA fans, this one is for you. And even if you aren’t an ABBA fan, go anyway. You might just become one.
The Cape Town season runs at Artscape until 11 October 2026, with the producers reporting packed houses and standing ovations since opening night. There are two performances on the Heritage Day public holiday (24 September). Book now at Ticketmaster.co.za.
