Girton students ‘take a chance on’ beloved ABBA musical

MORE than sixty Girton Grammar students are preparing to grace the stage for the Senior School’s upcoming production of Mamma Mia!.

The lighthearted jukebox musical is set to the iconic music of legendary Swedish pop group ABBA.

Debuting in London’s West End in 1999, Mamma Mia! redefined musical theatre by blending an uplifting storyline with ABBA’s hits.

Since then, it’s been performed in over 400 cities across the globe.

Girton’s head of drama and the production’s director Mandy Ellison said even people who aren’t die-hard ABBA fans will be drawn in by the show’s humour, heart and dynamic storytelling.

She said while many of the participating students were already familiar with ABBA’s music, she believes exploring the context of the songs has deepened their appreciation.

“They’ve really embraced the emotional range – from upbeat anthems to more heartfelt moments- and have brought a lot of personality to their roles,” she said.

“Watching them take ownership of the production and bring so much joy to the stage has been inspiring.”

Among the cast is Year 12 student and Bell Shakespeare scholarship recipient Tom Marchant, who plays the role of Sam Carmichael in addition to serving as the school’s drama captain.

“I’ve really enjoyed the sense of responsibility and getting to see what goes into a production behind the scenes,” he said.

“It’s been so fun getting to know the cast through drama games and rehearsals, which have created a strong sense of unity that can be very clearly felt by the audience.”

Girton Grammar School’s production of Mamma Mia! will run from Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 June at Ulumbarra Theatre.

Tickets are available on the Gotix website.