Schools and university groups across the UK and Ireland can stage Mamma Mia! for the first time, 27 years after it opened in the West End.
Music Theatre International has released the performance rights to Mamma Mia! for schools and university groups across the UK and Ireland, effective immediately. It is the first time the musical has been available to them since it opened in the West End in 1999.
MTI licenses more than 7,500 productions a year from its London office, but this title has been the one it could not offer. “For many years we’ve received almost daily requests from schools hoping to stage Mamma Mia!,” said Ryan Macaulay, the company’s director of operations, education and development. “We’re thrilled that the time has finally come to make that possible.”
Judy Craymer, who created and produces the show, said she hoped the release would “inspire more young people to dream big, embrace the joy of live performance and see a future for themselves in the creative industries”, adding that every production offers a chance to find talent “both on stage and behind the scenes”.
The musical has a book by Catherine Johnson built around ABBA’s songs. It has been seen by more than 70 million people in over 50 productions and 16 languages, and produced two films.
The timing is neat for anyone who wants to see it done professionally first: the West End production at the Novello Theatre takes a new cast on 12 October and is now booking to 2 October 2027.
Licensing details are on the MTI website. Mamma Mia! continues at the Novello Theatre in London.
