There is a site-specific Mamma Mia! set for cities worldwide, with the first Mamma Mia! The Party is being produced in Stockholm by Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus. The New York Times has reported that the Abba-centric musical Mamma Mia! will receive a new ‘immersive’ staging in a Stockholm beer hall. The beer hall is situated near an Abba museum; the show’s creative team will transform the beer hall into a Mediterranean restaurant, hugely similar to the Greek tavern featured in the show.
The news comes in the wake of the recently acclaimed site-specific production of Sweeney Todd, which transferred from a pie shop in Tooting to a ‘mock-up’ in the West End. The concept appears to have sparked a trend, in which immersive musical theatre performances are the go-to for a fun night out whilst engaging – in this case – with all your favourite Abba songs.
Ulvaeus will be producing Mamma Mia! The Party, which is set to open in January 2016; if the site-specific musical is a success it will then be replicated in other cities. The idea for Mamma Mia! The Party was born from Ulvaeus’ experiences in the theatres staging Mamma Mia! all over the world. In the show’s finale the audience enjoy dancing in the aisles and singing along, as a result of the happy mood the show has created.
Mamma Mia! The Party is therefore an extension of the show, transferring it to a Greek restaurant for a big party and a real-time story. Mamma Mia! The Party will not follow the precise storyline of the stage show and film, as the plot will be semi-improvised from night to night, based on interactions with the audience, with stories being created based on Abba songs. The concept looks set to be a huge success, with audiences experiencing something different every night.