Full casting is today announced for the new UK Tour of the sensational feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! commencing on 18 January 2022 at Plymouth Theatre Royal. Sara Poyzer (Donna Sheridan), Nicky Swift (Rosie), Helen Anker (Tanya), Richard Standing (Sam Carmichael), Phil Corbitt (Bill Austin), Daniel Crowder (Harry Bright), Jena Pandya (Sophie Sheridan), Toby Miles (Sky), Jasmine Shen (Ali), Mariella Mazzilli (Lisa), James Willoughby Moore (Pepper), Corey Mitchell (Eddie) and Sarah Harlington (Alternate Donna Sheridan) lead the cast.
Further casting includes Taylor Bridges, Ambra Caserotti, Martin Dickinson, Billy Downes, Chloe Gentles, Rachel Ivy, Luke Jasztal, Matt Kennedy, Lewis Kidd, Robert Knight, Hollie Nelson, Natasha O’Brien, Phoebe Roberts, Blair Robertson, Kaine Ruddach, Amy Thiroff and Cameron Vear.
The Tour opens on 18 January 2022 at Plymouth Theatre Royal and goes on to visit Hull, Eastbourne, Aberdeen, Liverpool, Nottingham, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Glasgow, Bristol, Sunderland, Bournemouth, Milton Keynes, Brighton, Canterbury, Leicester, Llandudno, Norwich, Sheffield, Belfast and Oxford. In 2023 the tour will visit Wolverhampton, Manchester, Cardiff, Blackpool and Leeds*.
Judy Craymer, Creator and Producer of MAMMA MIA! said “I’m really excited that MAMMA MIA! will be touring the UK once again from January 2022. We can’t wait to bring the feel-good story and much-loved music of ABBA to new and returning audiences across the country.”
Fall in love with the irresistibly funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless songs.
The new UK Tour celebrates 22 years since MAMMA MIA! premiered in London in April 1999. To date, MAMMA MIA! has been seen by over 65 million people in 50 productions in 16 different languages. In 2011 it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China. MAMMA MIA! became the 8th longest running show in Broadway history where it played a record-breaking run for 14 years.
Since premiering in London’s West End the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical has been turned into two record-breaking movies. Produced by Judy Craymer, MAMMA MIA! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008. The second film, MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN, opened in July 2018 and is the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time.
With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.
The MAMMA MIA! UK and International Tour is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal and NGM.
*Casting for 2023 dates to be announced.
BIOGRAPHIES
SARA POYZER (DONNA SHERIDAN)
Theatre includes: Sarah Jane Moore in Assassins (Watermill/Nottingham Playhouse), Donna Sheridan in MAMMA MIA! (Novello Theatre, UK & International Tour), Janet in Rutherford & Son (UK tour/The Other Palace), Emilia in Othello (Trafalgar Studios), Mam in Billy Elliot the Musical (Victoria Palace), Forever Young and All Quiet on the Western Front (Nottingham Playhouse), Beverley in Abigail’s Party (Theatre Royal, York), creating the role of Teena Satin in Satin ‘n’ Steel (Nottingham Playhouse and UK tour), Lady Sneerwell in The School for Scandal, Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice, Ismene in Antigone and Chorus in Poetry or Bust (Northern Broadsides), creating the role of Kate in Bollywood Jane (Leicester Haymarket), The Fly (Oldham Coliseum), Up ‘n’ Under (Leicester Haymarket) and Players Angels (UK tour). Television includes: Casualty, EastEnders, Doctors, Cast Offs, Paradise Reclaimed, Dangerville, Dangerfield, Playing the Field, Peak Practice, Crossroads and The Pilot of ODDinary People. Film includes: The Knife That Killed Me and My Last Five Girlfriends. Radio includes: Emilia in Othello, Leonie Snell in The Archers and numerous other drama series for BBC Radio 4. Sara recently recorded the The Legacy of Time for the Doctor Who audio series and the audio book series The Dark Side of The Mind and What Lies Buried. Sara is delighted to be back in the dungarees.
SARAH HARLINGTON (ALTERNATE DONNA SHERIDAN)
Training: Arts Educational School, London. Theatre includes: Alternate Donna in MAMMA MIA! (UK & International tour) Cover Tanya/Donna/Rosie in MAMMA MIA! (UK & International tour), Lady of the Lake in Spamalot (Mercury Theatre), Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut in Avenue Q (UK Tour), Sally in Girlfriends (Union Theatre), Serena Katz in Fame (UK tour), Twyla in When Midnight Strikes (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), Sister Act (UK Tour), Hair (European Tour), Princess Jasmine in Aladdin(Sheffield Lyceum & Towngate Theatre), Mary in The Human Comedy (Young Vic). Television includes: Kate Monster in Avenue Q for Sound of Musicals (BBC4). Workshops include: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.
NICKY SWIFT (ROSIE)
Training: National Youth Music Theatre, Birmingham University and The Royal Academy of Music where she received The Ian Fleming Musical Theatre Award. Theatre includes: Eileen Stinkleton in Grandma Saves The Day (New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich), Rosie in MAMMA MIA! (UK and International Tour), Shirley in Shirley Valentine (30th Anniversary UK Tour), Ethel/Coach
Dunbar/Betty in Footloose (UK Tour), 1st cover Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre, London), Cynthia/Aunt Mimi in Lennon (Royal Court, Liverpool), Vera Lynn in Songs for Victory (UK Tour), One Night in Istanbul (Echo Arena, Dublin Gaiety and Belfast Grand Opera House), Jack and the Beanstalk, Mother Goose, Aladdin, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty and Red Riding Hood (Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse), Jellylorum in Cats (Arena Tour), Vi in The Buddy Holly Story (Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London), Alice in The Walled Garden (Brockwell Park, London), Twelfth Night, Plaza Suite, The Odd Couple and A Slice of Saturday Night (QE Theatre Company on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth), Elizabeth in Richard Taylor’sWhistle Down the Wind (Edinburgh Festival, Sadler’s Wells, London and West Yorkshire Playhouse), Charlie (Buxton Opera House), Creation and Warchild (National Youth Music Theatre, London), Her Benny (Liverpool Empire), David Copperfield (UK Tour), Sixteen Gobs (King’s Head, London), Habeas Corpus and City of Angels (Royal Academy of Music, London). Television includes: Hillsborough, Voices Raised, Blue Peter, Sport Relief and The Olivier Awards. Radio includes:Loose EndsandNew Musicals with Stephen Sondheim(BBC Radio 2).Other work includes: Soloist alongside Dame Judi Dench in An Enchanted Evening (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.) Nicky also worked as a soloist and backing singer in Cynthia Erivo’s Hear My Soul concert at Kings Place, London. Other solo concerts at The Palace Theatre (London,) The Royal Albert Hall, O2 Arena, The Queen’s Jubliee and performances for HRH Prince Edward at St James’ Palace. Nicky made her Off Broadway debut in A Broadway Diva Christmas (Julia Miles Theatre, New York)
HELEN ANKER (TANYA)
Training: Royal Ballet School and Doreen Bird College. Theatre includes: Audrey Hepburn in The Essence of Audrey (various studio theatres), Tanya in MAMMA MIA! (International Tour), Jellylorum in Cats (Kilworth House), Guenevere in Camelot (Chanhassen Theatre, Minneapolis), Catastrophe (Contemporary American Theatre festival, Shepherdstown), Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis), Mrs Mullin in Carousel (Houston Grand Opera), Georgia in Curtains (TUTS and Papermill Playhouse, NJ), Medda Larkin in the original production of Newsies (Papermill Playhouse, NJ), The 39 Steps (Milwaukee Rep), Cecily in The Odd Couple (Pioneer Theatre, Salt Lake City) Miss Olsen in Promises Promises (Broadway Theatre, Broadway), Meggie in The Thorn Birds (Wales Tour), The Cappuccino Girls (Wales tour) Ivy Smith in On The Town and Candide (ENO, Coliseum), Mrs Phagan/Sally Slaton in Parade (Donmar Warehouse), Zelda Fitzgerald in Beautiful and Damned (Lyric Theatre, London and Yvonne Arnold, Guildford), Mary Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life (New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich), Judy in A Chorus Line (Sheffield Crucible), Girl on the Swing in Contact (Queens Theatre, London), Aggie u/s Laurey in Oklahoma! (National and Lyceum, London), Iris in Fame (Cambridge Theatre, London), Louisa in Hard Times the Musical (Theatre Royal Haymarket, London), Jemima and u/s White Cat and Demeter in Cats (New London Theatre, London), Vera and u/s Patsy in Crazy For You (Prince Edward Theatre, London), Radio Times (Queens Theatre) other regional shows include Dames and Sea, Let’s Face the Music and Dance, Polishing the Sun, Alvaro’s Balcony, Heartbreak House and Perfect Timing, and many Pantos. Film includes: Streamed production of Romeo and Juliet, playing Lady Capulet, Ted 2, Cinderella and Oklahoma. Television includes: Holby City, Law and Order SVU, White Collar and The Good Wife. ShehasalsoperformedinfourTonyAwards,andatTheOscars. Voiceovers:RollsRoyce,Weleda, Always and others.
RICHARD STANDING (SAM CARMICHAEL)
Theatre credits include: Faith Healer (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Hamlet, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the title role in Macbeth (Shakespeare's Rose Theatre), A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (Hull Truck Theatre), Richard III (Northern Broadsides), MAMMA MIA! (UK & International Tour), Blood & Chocolate (York Theatre Royal), Glee Club (Cast Theatre), Rutherford & Son (Northern Broadsides), Swallows & Amazons (Bristol Old Vic), Othello (UK Tour & West End), On A Shout (Hull Truck Theatre), War of the Roses, The Comedy of Errors/Sweet William, The School for Scandal, The Merchant of Venice, Henry V, A Woman Killed with Kindness, Macbeth (Northern Broadsides), Anthony & Cleopatra (Moving Theatre), Mother Courage and her Children (National Theatre), Casement (Riverside Studios), The Mortal Ash (Bush Theatre), The Flag (Moving Theatre) and Pond Life (Bush Theatre). Television includes: Silent Witness (BBC), The Bill (ITV), If... (Diverse Group Ltd), In Denial of Murder (Hat Trick Productions), The Guardian (Meridian TV), Casualty (BBC), Grange Hill (Mersey TV), Doctors (BBC), Danny Hargreaves in Coronation Street (Granada), Holby City (BBC), Joe Brand TV Show (Show X), Dalziel & Pascoe (BBC), Picking Up The Pieces (Carlton), Stone Cold (BBC), The Grand (Granada), One For The Road (Channel X), Harry (Union Pictures) and Families (Granada). Film includes: When Did You Last See Your Father (Father Features Ltd)
DANIEL CROWDER (HARRY BRIGHT)
Training: Rose Bruford College. Theatre includes: MAMMA MIA! (UK & International Tour), The Graduate, Twelfth Night and The Madness of George III (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Neville’s Island and The Safari Party (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough), The Mousetrap (St Martin’s Theatre, London), The Potsdam Quartet (Jermyn St Theatre, London), Way Upstream (Salisbury Playhouse), Corrie! (UK Tour and New Zealand), The Duchess of Malfi (Theatre Royal, Northampton), Arthur and George (Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse), Lost in the Stars (Queen Elizabeth Hall, London), High Society (National Tour), Noël Coward Double Bill (Liverpool Playhouse), The Safari Party and The Good Samaritan (Hampstead Theatre), Love’s Labour’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London), That Woman (Royal Court, London) and The Red Balloon (National Theatre, London). Film includes: Gulliver’s Travels, The Avengers and Reinventing Eddie. Television includes: The Cockfields, Coronation Street, Urban Myths: Public Enemy, The Job Lot, Ladies of Letters, Casualty, EastEnders, Doctors, Holby City, Midsomer Murders, Los Dos Bros, Randall and Hopkirk Deceased and The Bill. Radio includes: How to Have a Perfect Marriage (Radio 4), My Lighthouse (Radio 2), Lost in the Stars (Radio 3) and The Red Balloon (Radio 4).
PHIL CORBITT (BILL AUSTIN)
Training: Drama degree from Loughborough University. Theatre includes: The Tempest, Hamlet, The Canterbury Tales, Wars of the Roses and The Bells (Northern Broadsides), The Tempest (Northern Broadsides tour, Beijing and Shanghai), Round the Garden (Malaysia), The Murder of Sherlock Holmes (Europe Tour), A Streetcar Named Desire (Europe, Hong Kong, Japan Tours), Sweet Charity (Frankfurt), Calendar Girls The Musical (UK Tour), Electric Lipstick (UK Tour), Return to the Forbidden Planet (West End & UK Tour), Much Ado About Nothing (UK Tour), Ladies’ Night (UK Tour), Twelfth Night (UK Tour), The Secret Agent, for which he was also composer (UK Tour), Manifesto for a New City (Northern Stage), Rendezvous, Tyne, Looking For Buddy (Live Theatre, Newcastle and Octagon Theatre Bolton), Close the Coalhouse Door, Brassed Off, Wake Up Little Suzie, Good Golly Miss Molly (Oldham Coliseum), Eight Miles High (Bolton Octagon), Carmen (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough), The Firework Maker’s Daughter, The Hired Man, Speed- The-Plow, The Good Companions (Keswick), Hamlet (Bristol Old Vic), Bouncers, Don Giovanni, From A Jack to A King (New Vic Stoke), Tears of a Clown, Macbeth, The Norman Conquests (Harrogate), A Family Affair (Contact, Manchester) and World Story Time (Theatre Royal Stratford East) Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin (Everyman Theatre, Liverpool) and several pantomime seasons for Qdos. Television includes: Undercover, Creeped Out, Inspector George Gently, All at Sea, Vera, Emmerdale, Waterloo Road, Coronation Street, Doctors, Shameless, The Royal, The Royal Today, Dalziel and Pascoe, Mobile, Harry and The Cinder Path. Film includes: Peterloo, Blissand Almost Married.
JENA PANDYA (SOPHIE SHERIDAN)
Training: Bird College. Theatre includes: What’s New Pussycat? (Birmingham Rep). Credits whilst training: Anita in West Side Story, Dance Captain in Guys and Dolls.
TOBY MILES (SKY)
Training: Arts Educational Schools, London. Theatre Includes: Most recently, he made his professional debut as Marius in the West End production of Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre), for which he was nominated for The Stage Debut Award for Best Actor In A Musical. Other credits include: The Olivier Awards (Royal Albert Hall); Friday Night Is Music Night (BBC).
JASMINE SHEN (ALI)
Training: Bird College Theatre Includes: Aragon in SIX The Musical (Norwegian Cruise Line) and On Hostile Ground (Online Musical).
MARIELLA MAZZILLI (LISA)
Training: Masters Performing Arts. Theatre includes: Lisa in MAMMA MIA! (UK & International Tour). Credits whilst training: Frenchy in Grease, Dancer for the Rugby World Cup Final, Dancer for the FA Cup Final and Dancer/Understudy Snow White (QDOS Pantomimes).
JAMES WILLOUGHBY MOORE (PEPPER)
Training: Laine Theatre Arts and Arabesque School of Performing Arts. Theatre includes: MAMMA MIA! (Novello Theatre, London), Peter Pan (Swindon and Hastings); Harry in The Hired Man (Cadogan Hall, London) David in Company, Elephant’s Child in Just So and The Laramie Project (LTA Studio Theatre), Bruce and Tommy in Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre).
COREY MITCHELL (EDDIE)
Theatre includes: Levi in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour), Swing in Starlight Express (Bochum), Identity (CTC Dance Company).
