The producers of Mamma Mia! are in the process of applying for planning permission to build a temporary venue in London’s Waterloo area, where they can recreate an authentic Greek taverna to host Mamma Mia! The Party.
Mamma Mia! The Party was devised by Björn Ulvaeus, director Roine Söderlundh and writer Calle Norlén, with new characters and a new story, using some of the songs from the musical, but mostly other ABBA songs. Opening in Stockholm on 20 January 2016, it has been a huge sell-out success, and now Björn wants to bring the party to London.
For every Dancing Queen or Super Trooper who’s ever wanted to continue the party after the show, Björn and producer Ingrid Sutej are aiming to recreate a taverna replete with courtyard, olive trees, a fountain and lots of bougainvillea – just like the ones on the island of Skopelos, where the film was shot. Along with their architects Haworth Tompkins, they are working with the local community to make sure they create something that is acceptable to them as well as to Lambeth Council.
Björn said, “The South Bank is the perfect place for Mamma Mia! The Party. The building could be used for other activities as well, outside Party hours, so we hope it would be an asset for the whole community.”
Local social enterprise Coin Street Community Builders has been approached about a currently undeveloped site adjacent to the Coin Street neighbourhood centre on Stamford Street, London SE1. The plan will be to create a wonderfully exotic Greek taverna, where the audience will be served great Mediterranean food and entertained by a cast of actors and musicians, who will transport them to the Greek island paradise.
For more information on the enterprise, visit Mamma Mia! The Party’s website.