Opening night of Mildura’s Mamma Mia hailed a success

It was the night Mildura had been waiting for for more than a year. The highly-anticipated Mamma Mia opened on Thursday night. See how it went.

Mamma Mia Mildura. Itsa Mamma Mia and itsa here in Mildura.

Audiences have been able to witness the fun, colour and magic of Mamma Mia as the cast of local dancing queens opened the highly-anticipated production on Thursday night.

Just one look and you can see the love and handwork that has been dedicated to every moment of this show. A little slice of a Greek paradise was delivered to almost 500 patrons on opening night who came to see the ABBA theatrical experience.

Mamma Mia! Mildura opening night success

“It is such a great show, with some amazing local talent,” one very impressed audience member said.

Director, Steve Prescott, said he was excited ahead of opening night.

“Now is the time to really shine and nail everything that we have been practising for so long,” he said.

Dancing queen Alison Walker plays Donna in the production and says she is “having a ball” in her first lead role

“It is not too often that a lead role that is suitable for my age group comes along so I thought I would give it a red hot go,” she said.

Rachel Alderton plays Sophie Sheridan, the daughter of Donna who is played by Alison Walker.

Mildura Musical Society are having their final few rehearsals ahead of opening night. The ensemble cast are working hard on the big numbers in the show.

But, she says, it’s not been easy getting the show to the stage. It was expected to open last year but when Covid-19 lockdowns returned the show was postponed until 2022.

“We were only about three weeks out before needing to postpone. The cast have really come together, there is no way that we were going to cancel this at all,” Alison said.

She said the community were “ready for some fun” and the show was a great way to get the community together after a rough two years.

“If people do one thing, it would be great to have the locals come out and see the show,” Alison said.

“Get dressed up, sing along, have a dance and a glass of wine, it is all such great fun.”

Lots of bright colours bring Mildura Musical Society’s production of Mamma Mia! to life.

Mamma Mia! promises to make audiences laugh with characters like Bill (Glen Barrow) and Rosie (Bron Prescott).

Mamma Mia follows Sophie Sheridan’s journey as she searches for her birth father ahead of her wedding.

Set on a Greek island three men from her mother’s past are brought back to the island they visited 20 years ago.

Steve said the story resonates with everyone, and is mixed with ABBA classic that all can sing to.

“Right from the time I first saw the show I knew I wanted to put it on,” he said.

“This is a story about a broken family that then comes together, it is everyday stuff.”

Nigel Hoyle plays Sam, one of Sophie’s potential fathers.

Matthew Capp plays the role of Harry, another one of Sophie’s potential fathers.

Mamma Mia! opens on Thursday February 3 at 7.30pm and will run until Sunday February 6, with both matinee and evening shows available.

Buy tickets at Mildura Arts Centre’s website.