WHAT’S IN GRACE’S SATCHEL?
Oh honey, you can dance, you can jive, and you can definitely have the time of your life — because MAMMA MIA! is packing its platform boots and heading out on a brand-new UK tour!
I nearly dropped my postbag when I heard the news — the full cast has been revealed for this glittering, feel-good musical that’s pure sunshine from start to finish. Leading the charge is Jenn Griffin as our dancing queen Donna Sheridan, with Ashleigh Jones stepping in as her alternate. Alongside her are Rosie Glossop as Rosie (yes, I know — it’s like she was born for it), and Sarah Earnshaw as Tanya, ready to pour the cocktails and sass in equal measure.
Our three potential dads? Luke Jasztal (Sam Carmichael), Richard Meek (Harry Bright), and Mark Goldthorp (Bill Austin).. Add in Lydia Hunt as Sophie, Joe Grundy as Sky, and a talented ensemble bursting with energy — and you’ve got yourself one glitter cannon of a show.
The tour kicks off at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton from 24 October to 8 November 2025, before skipping across the UK faster than a Greek ferry in full sail: Bristol, Oxford, Edinburgh, Swansea, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Manchester, Leicester, Hull, Llandudno, Blackpool, Birmingham, Truro, Leeds, Norwich, Eastbourne, and Bournemouth are all on the list. (And yes, I’ll be sending postcards from every stop — signed “Grace Hatchell, Super Trouper, 2nd Act Couriers”.)
Now, for anyone who’s been living under a disco ball, MAMMA MIA! is the brainchild of Judy Craymer, who had the genius idea to weave ABBA’s timeless hits into a heartwarming tale of one mother, one daughter, and three possible dads on a sun-drenched Greek island. It’s a show where secrets, sequins, and shoulder shimmies rule supreme.
Craymer herself says she’s “excited for this 2025 UK tour cast to step into these roles” and can’t wait for audiences to escape to the Greek island idyll and have “the time of their lives.” I mean — same, Judy, same.
If you’ve never seen it live, trust me: by the finale you’ll be on your feet, waving your arms like you’re on the Mamma Mia pier shouting “Thank You for the Music!” And if you have seen it before — well, Here We Go Again!
Since its 1999 debut, MAMMA MIA! has had more global reach than a 70s radio antenna — playing in 42 countries, seen by over 70 million people, and even turned into two blockbuster films starring Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, and Cher (because who else could possibly play Sophie’s grandmother?).
So whether you’re an ABBA devotee or a dancing queen in training, this is one delivery you won’t want to miss.
MAMMA MIA! comes to Curve, Leicester from Tuesday 24 to Sunday 29 March 2026 — so grab your flares, book your tickets, and say a little prayer for your vocal cords. You’ll be singing Voulez-Vous all the way home.
Signed, sealed, and disco-delivered,
Grace Hatchell
2nd Act Couriers – delivering theatre gossip, one Greek island dream at a time.
Book tickets now via curveonline.co.uk or call 0116 242 3595.