This Mamma Mia London Review by London Reviews is the most thorough independent guide available to the longest-running ABBA musical in the world, currently playing at the Novello Theatre on Aldwych and booking through September 2026.
Last updated: 30 April 2026 — Independently researched and written by the London Reviews editorial team.
Looking for an honest Mamma Mia London Review? This is the most thorough independent assessment of the global jukebox-musical phenomenon at London’s Novello Theatre. Below we cover the venue, the cast, the songs (every single ABBA hit you’d expect), ticket pricing from £18.52, accessibility, and what audiences and critics have said across 25+ years of West End performances.
At a Glance
- Show: Mamma Mia!
- Genre: Jukebox musical comedy / family-friendly
- Venue: Novello Theatre, Aldwych, London WC2B 4LD
- Booking until: September 2026 (open run)
- Show times: Mon–Sat 7:30pm; Thu and Sat matinées 3:00pm
- Running time: 2 hours 35 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)
- Age: 5+ (children under 3 not admitted)
- Music and lyrics: Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA)
- Book: Catherine Johnson
- Director: Phyllida Lloyd
- Choreography: Anthony Van Laast
- Producer: Judy Craymer
- Current cast (2025-2026): Sara Poyzer (Donna), Ellie Kingdon (Sophie), Richard Standing (Sam), Tamlyn Henderson (Bill), Daniel Crowder (Harry), Helen Anker (Tanya), Nicky Swift (Rosie)
- Ticket prices: from £18.52
- Where to book: mamma-mia.com/london, Delfont Mackintosh
- Nearest Tube: Covent Garden, Holborn, Temple
- Capacity: 1,107 across Stalls, Royal Circle, Grand Circle
- Audience reach: 70 million+ tickets sold worldwide, $4.5+ billion gross since 1999
Introduction
Mamma Mia! is, on a long view, the most commercially successful musical of the 21st century. Catherine Johnson’s book, set on a Greek island and structured around 22 of ABBA’s biggest hits, opened at the Prince Edward Theatre in London on 6 April 1999, transferred to the Prince of Wales in 2004, and to the Novello Theatre in 2012, where it has remained ever since. Worldwide it has been seen by more than 70 million people and grossed over $4.5 billion. The 2008 Meryl Streep / Pierce Brosnan film and 2018 sequel turned the show into a globally recognised cultural property.
This Mamma Mia London Review covers the autumn 2025 / 2026 run at the Novello Theatre, currently booking through September 2026. The Novello is a Delfont Mackintosh-owned, Grade II-listed Edwardian house that’s been the show’s London home for 14 years.
If you’re a Christmas or summer London visitor, a hen-party planner, a family with children aged six and up, or a musical-theatre completist, this is one of the most reliable bookings on the West End.
The Venue: Novello Theatre
Location and Getting There
The Novello Theatre sits on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. Covent Garden Tube (Piccadilly) is a six-minute walk; Holborn (Central, Piccadilly) is seven; Temple (Circle, District) is eight. Buses 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 87 and 91 stop within five minutes.
The Building
The Novello opened in 1905 as the Waldorf Theatre, was renamed the Strand Theatre in 1909, and renamed again in 2005 in honour of Ivor Novello. It is a 1,107-seat Edwardian theatre laid out across three levels — Stalls (528), Royal Circle (296), Grand Circle (283) — with a generous proscenium and unusually clear sightlines for a building of this age.
Seating Guide
Stalls Rows F to L centre are the connoisseur’s pick. Royal Circle Row A or B centre offers an excellent elevated view and is the value pick. Grand Circle Row A centre at the bargain end remains a perfectly acceptable view for a £30–£40 ticket. Avoid the very back of the Grand Circle for the seventeen-strong “Voulez-Vous” sequence.
Accessibility
Step-free access to the Stalls; Royal Circle and Grand Circle involve stairs. Wheelchair spaces and companion seats in the Stalls. Infrared hearing-loop coverage. Email access@delfontmackintosh.co.uk or call 020 7395 5409.
The Show: What to Expect (Spoiler-Free)
Mamma Mia! is set on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi in 1999. Twenty-year-old Sophie is about to marry her fiancé Sky and has secretly invited three men from her mother Donna’s diary to the wedding — convinced one of them is her father, identity unknown. Donna has no idea they’re coming. Across two days and 22 ABBA songs, secrets unravel.
The score is a straight-up greatest-hits compilation: “Dancing Queen”, “Mamma Mia”, “Super Trouper”, “Lay All Your Love on Me”, “The Winner Takes It All”, “Knowing Me Knowing You”, “Take a Chance on Me”, “Money Money Money”, “Voulez-Vous”, “SOS”, “Thank You for the Music”.
Tonally, expect warmth, comedy, generation-gap friendship, and a closing megamix that turns the entire 1,107-seat house into a sing-along.
The Cast & Performances
The current 2025–2026 lead cast is Sara Poyzer as Donna Sheridan, Ellie Kingdon as Sophie, Richard Standing as Sam Carmichael, Tamlyn Henderson as Bill Austin, Daniel Crowder as Harry Bright, Helen Anker as Tanya and Nicky Swift as Rosie. Cast refreshes annually.
Donna is the headline role — “The Winner Takes It All”, “Slipping Through My Fingers” and “Mamma Mia” are three of the most demanding numbers in the show. Helen Anker’s Tanya gets the show’s best comic material; Nicky Swift’s Rosie has the audience favourite “Take a Chance on Me” pursuit number.
The dance ensemble’s “Voulez-Vous” sequence — twelve performers in flippers, snorkels and disco shorts — is the show’s most-photographed visual.
The Music, Staging & Production
Anthony Van Laast’s choreography is the production’s secret weapon. The orchestra is small but tight, with reed-and-brass-heavy ABBA arrangements. Set design is by Mark Thompson — a single Greek-taverna unit that rotates and reconfigures across the show. Costumes by Mark Thompson, lighting by Howard Harrison, sound by Andrew Bruce.
Tickets & Pricing
From £18.52 to approximately £150 for premium centre Stalls. Most weekday evenings £30–£90.
Best value: Royal Circle Row A or B centre at £55–£75. Splurge: Stalls Rows F to L centre at £75–£150. Bargain: Grand Circle Row A centre at £30–£40.
What Audiences Actually Say
TripAdvisor average around 4.6/5 across two decades. Recurring positives: “best night out”, “phenomenal cast”, “couldn’t stop dancing”. Critics: 4 stars consistently. Audience-side: 4.5+ stars.
What Audiences Love Most
- The closing megamix. “Dancing Queen”, “Mamma Mia”, “Waterloo”.
- “The Winner Takes It All”. Donna’s solo. Single most-cited audience favourite.
- “Voulez-Vous”. Twelve performers in flippers and snorkels.
- The Donna-Sophie dynamic. Mother-daughter heart of the show.
- Helen Anker’s Tanya. Strongest comic performance.
- The price. £18.52 entry is properly accessible.
- Hen-party energy.
- Catherine Johnson’s book. Surprisingly funny.
Areas for Consideration
- Plot is predictable.
- It’s loud — sing-along can overwhelm cast on Saturdays.
- Premium tickets up to £150.
- Critics aren’t effusive.
- Cast refreshes annually.
Who Is Mamma Mia Best For?
- ✅ Hen parties and birthday groups
- ✅ ABBA fans
- ✅ Families with children aged 6+
- ✅ Date-night audiences
- ✅ First-time West End theatregoers
- ✅ Tourists wanting a single big-night-out booking
- ✅ Mother-daughter audiences
- ✅ Budget bookers (£18.52 entry tier)
- ⚠️ Children under 3 (not admitted)
- ⚠️ Audiences expecting plot-led drama
- ⚠️ Anyone allergic to a sing-along audience
How Mamma Mia Compares
| Feature | Mamma Mia! | Wicked | The Lion King | Six |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genre | Jukebox | Pop / fantasy | Family / spectacle | Pop concert |
| Venue | Novello (1,107) | Apollo Victoria (2,328) | Lyceum (2,100) | Vaudeville (681) |
| Running Time | 2h 35m | 2h 45m | 2h 30m | 1h 20m |
| Price Range | £18.52 – £150 | £28 – £255 | £25 – £210 | £25 – £140 |
| Best For | Hen, ABBA, family | Family, tweens | Young kids | Pop, dates |
Verdict. Mamma Mia is the most accessibly priced and broadest-audience London musical currently running.
Insider Tips
- Best value seat: Royal Circle Row A or B centre at £55–£75.
- Best splurge: Stalls Rows F to L centre at £75–£150.
- Best bargain: Grand Circle Row A centre at £30–£40, or grab a £18.52 ticket.
- Pre-show dining: Joe Allen, Dishoom Covent Garden, Wahaca, Frenchie.
- Pre-order interval drinks. Always.
- Stage door: Catherine Street side.
- Saturday matinée for first-timers.
- Hen party of 10+: contact box office for special pricing.
FAQs
How long is Mamma Mia at the Novello Theatre in London, including the interval?
2 hours 35 minutes including a 15-minute interval.
Is Mamma Mia at the Novello Theatre in London suitable for children?
Recommended for ages 5+. Children under 3 not admitted.
When is Mamma Mia booking until at the Novello Theatre in London?
Through September 2026 (open run, extended on a rolling basis).
What are the best seats for Mamma Mia at the Novello Theatre in London?
Royal Circle Row A or B centre for value. Stalls Rows F to L centre for splurge.
Is the Novello Theatre accessible for wheelchair users?
Step-free to Stalls only. Email access@delfontmackintosh.co.uk.
Who is in the Mamma Mia London cast at the Novello Theatre in 2026?
Sara Poyzer (Donna), Ellie Kingdon (Sophie), Richard Standing (Sam), Tamlyn Henderson (Bill), Daniel Crowder (Harry), Helen Anker (Tanya), Nicky Swift (Rosie).
How do I get to the Novello Theatre by public transport?
Covent Garden (Piccadilly) is six minutes’ walk; Holborn seven; Temple eight.
How much do Mamma Mia tickets at the Novello Theatre in London cost in 2026?
From £18.52 to approximately £150 for premium centre Stalls.
Who wrote Mamma Mia?
Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA); book by Catherine Johnson; directed by Phyllida Lloyd.
London Reviews Verdict on Mamma Mia London Review
Mamma Mia at the Novello Theatre is the most reliable single booking on the West End. 25+ years of continuous performance, 70 million+ tickets sold worldwide, 22 ABBA songs delivered live every night, and an entry tier at £18.52.
Our final word on this Mamma Mia London Review: book it. Royal Circle Row B if you can. Saturday matinée for first-timers. Sequins optional but encouraged.
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- Billy Elliot London Review
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- Burlesque The Musical London Review
- Hamilton London Review
- Wicked London Review
- More London theatre and show reviews
Summary Rating
| Cast & Performances | ★★★★½ |
| Music & Score | ★★★★★ |
| Choreography | ★★★★½ |
| Value for Money | ★★★★★ |
| Audience Experience | ★★★★★ |
| OVERALL | ★★★★½ (4.7/5) |
Disclaimer
This Mamma Mia London Review is independently written by the London Reviews editorial team, last updated 30 April 2026.
