Senior School Production: Mamma Mia!

Girton students set to debut hit ABBA musical ‘Mamma Mia!’ in Bendigo

Mamma Mia! is ‘the name of the game’ this month, as Girton's Senior School students prepare to bring the beloved ABBA musical to Bendigo audiences for the very first time.

First staged in London’s West End in 1999, Mamma Mia! redefined musical theatre by blending an uplifting storyline with ABBA’s iconic pop hits. Since then, it has graced stages in over 400 major cities around the world.

Soon, it will be Bendigo’s turn – with Girton students excited to bring the show’s infectious music, colourful costumes and energetic dance numbers to life at the Ulumbarra Theatre over three nights in late June.

Even those who aren’t die-hard ABBA fans will be drawn in by the “humour, heart and dynamic storytelling”, according to Director and Head of Drama, Ms Mandy Ellison.

The story follows Sophie, a young bride-to-be who sets out to find her father in the lead-up to her wedding – much to the chagrin of her mother, Donna. The warmth of the story, combined with the sun-drenched Greek island setting, offers the perfect theatrical escape from the Bendigo winter.

While many of the students were already familiar with ABBA’s music – with hits like ‘Dancing Queen’ often used as the school bell – Ms Ellison believes exploring the context of the songs within the story 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,” Ms Ellison said. “Watching them take ownership of the production and bring so much joy to the stage has been inspiring.”

Students have been deeply immersed in all facets of the production – from the cast and backstage crew to stage makeup, set design and tech teams.

Among the talented 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,” Tom 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.”

Mamma Mia! will run from 26–28 June from 7pm at Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, with tickets now available for purchase at Bendigo Venues & Events.