Do you want to discover which is the best ABBA-inspired show for you to see in London? Whether you’re craving a feel-good musical or a concert like no other - this guide will help you make that decision.
Mamma Mia and Abba Voyage production image.
ABBA fans are spoilt for choice when it comes to experiencing ABBA’s music live in London. On one hand there’s the iconic Mamma Mia! The Musical. This feel-good musical has been playing in the West End for over 25 years, whereas on the other hand, the cutting-edge technology of ABBA Voyage is a great source of nostalgia, allowing audiences to let their hair down and enjoy ABBA’s unforgettable hits in a purpose-built stadium. But which one should you go and see?
ABBA Voyage
ABBA Voyage production image.
What is ABBA Voyage about?
ABBA Voyage is the ultimate concert experience for any fans of the Swedish pop band. Bringing them back together for the first time in over 40 years, with the help of spectacular special effects and a live band. Dance the night away along to your favourite ABBA songs, as well as some of their more recent releases. When you come to visit ABBA Voyage you can choose to sit in the auditorium or get closer to the action with a standing ticket.
Where is ABBA Voyage?
ABBA Voyage takes place at the purpose-built ABBA Arena, a state-of-the-art 3,000-capacity venue which is located at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. The ABBA Arena is located on Pudding Mill Lane, you can travel directly to that station via the DLR. Alternatively there is Stratford Station (London Overground, DLR, Jubilee and Central lines) that is a 15-minute walk away.
What's the hype behind ABBA Voyage?
Since ABBA themselves are no longer performing or touring together, ABBA Voyage is the only way modern audiences can experience an ABBA concert.
The show is also an astounding example of how far technology has come and the role it can play in bringing theatre and music to life, giving audiences a unique and immersive experience. You can experience this concert by standing or sitting, depending on your preference.
MAMMA MIA! The Musical
Mamma Mia! The Musical production image.
What is Mamma Mia! The Musical about?
Mamma Mia! The Musical is a heartwarming story about a mother and daughter’s tightly-knit bond and a girl’s search for her birth father, set against the unforgettable backdrop of a gorgeous Greek island. It features some of ABBA’s most popular and beloved songs, including ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Money, Money, Money’, ‘The Winner Takes It All’, and more.
Where is Mamma Mia! The Musical played?
Mamma Mia! The Musical is played at the Novello Theatre on Aldwych, WC2B 4LD. The nearest train station for this theatre is Charing Cross with the nearest tube stations Covent Garden, Charing Cross and Holborn in walking distance to the theatre.
Why do people love Mamma Mia: The Musical?
Playing in London since 1999, Mamma Mia! is the fifth longest-running show in West End history, and the third longest-running musical. The combination of ABBA’s music and the story have made this production so loved by generations of theatregoers.
It has also inspired a number of adaptations, such as the 2008 film version, whose star-studded cast included Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried as Donna and Sophie, and its 2018 sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. There was also a TV programme, ‘Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream’ on ITV in 2023, which documented the search for two new leads of the West End musical. These have also helped cement the musical’s status as a timeless cultural phenomenon.
What are the Key Differences between ABBA Voyage and Mamma Mia! The Musical?
ABBA Voyage is a concert based on the Swedish group’s music, featuring virtual holograms of ABBA called ‘Abbators’. It uses virtual reality and other immersive technology to replicate the experience of being at an ABBA concert.
Mamma Mia is a jukebox musical with its own independent storyline and plot, which features several of ABBA’s most popular songs. The production uses a traditional set and props and relies on a star-studded cast of actors, rather than cutting edge technology, to immerse you into the story.
Mamma Mia has been running on the West End for 26 years, while ABBA Voyage is much newer, and has only been around for three years.
So which show should you opt for if you’re an ABBA fan or only in London for a limited time?
If you love ABBA’s music and their unique, electric performance style, whether you got a chance to see them perform during their heyday or if you’re a newer fan, ABBA Voyage will give you the opportunity to experience an ABBA concert in all its glory.
If you love a feel-good story with heart and humour, or if you enjoyed the 2008 Mamma Mia film, Mamma Mia! The Musical offers an unforgettable experience with gorgeous sets and costumes, and a brilliant cast of astounding vocal talents.
Gimme Gimme Gimme tickets to see ABBA Voyage and Mamma Mia The Musical!
To celebrate all things ABBA, we’re giving away a pair of tickets to see ABBA Voyage OR Mamma Mia! The Musical, and with summer just around the corner, we promise you you’ll have the night of your life. To be in with a chance of winning tickets by heading over to the ABBA Voyage OR Mamma Mia! The Musical pages now to enter. For an extra entry, head to our Instagram and Facebook page. The competition closes at midnight on 8 June. Terms and conditions will apply.
