The award-winning musical has opened to packed houses, standing ovations and glowing reviews at Artscape, with Johannesburg next in line.

Cape Town audiences have officially fallen under the spell of MAMMA MIA! Since opening at Artscape on 3 September, the much-loved musical has been met with packed houses, standing ovations and an overwhelming wave of praise for its energetic cast, feel-good story and timeless ABBA soundtrack.

Produced by Showtime Management, the South African production brings together everything audiences have come to love about MAMMA MIA!: friendship, romance, family, laughter and a generous dose of nostalgia, all set against the sun-drenched beauty of a Greek island. And audiences are clearly having a very good time.

Television presenter, celebrity and MC Siv Ngesi summed up his experience simply: “Epic, epic, epic show!” Blogger Shaun Engel described the production as “colourful, vibrant, quirky, witty and outright fabulous,” while Jade Samuels of All Access Entertainment said, “I went in curious. I left blown away.”

The praise has extended beyond the performances themselves, with Chloe Posthumus of Biz Community highlighting the show’s ability to bring people together: “You leave wanting everyone else to experience it too.”

Philip Todres from MyWay also praised the production’s energy, describing its “brilliant, high-energy, fast-moving intensity”, while audiences have taken to social media to celebrate everything from the costumes and vocals to the sheer joy of the experience.

As Saskia Goldberg put it: “Fabulous costumes, big voices and a whole lot of joy!”

Debbie Turner echoed the sentiment, saying: “We loved every minute of this exuberant and super skilled cast!”

And perhaps the greatest sign of a successful MAMMA MIA! experience is what happens when the curtain comes down. As Karen Rutter of Weekend Special puts it, “You can’t help but leave with a smile, and probably an ABBA song stuck firmly in your head.”

Broadway World’s Meagan Dill perhaps captures the momentum best, describing the production as “a triumphant return led by South Africa’s best.”

At the heart of the story are Donna Sheridan and her daughter Sophie, surrounded by a colourful cast of friends, former lovers and unforgettable characters. Their story of love, family, identity and second chances continues to resonate decades after MAMMA MIA! first captured audiences around the world.

Perhaps that is the magic of the musical. Its themes feel familiar, its music feels timeless, and its ability to bring an audience together remains as strong as ever.

Cape Town audiences still have an opportunity to experience the production at Artscape until 11 October, including two performances on Heritage Day, 24 September. But the MAMMA MIA! journey doesn’t end in Cape Town.

Johannesburg audiences will get their turn when the production moves to the Teatro at Montecasino from 16 October to 22 November 2026, bringing Donna, Sophie and the rest of the gang to the city for another run of feel-good musical theatre.

With its powerhouse performances, infectious energy and an ABBA soundtrack packed with songs audiences already know by heart, MAMMA MIA! is proving once again that some stories simply don’t go out of style.

And if Cape Town’s reaction is anything to go by, Johannesburg should probably get ready to sing along, fall in love and leave with a smile.

MAMMA MIA! is currently on at Artscape in Cape Town until 11 October, before moving to Montecasino’s Teatro from 16 October to 22 November 2026.

Tickets are available through Showtime and Ticketmaster. Terrific Tuesday offers, as well as discounted group bookings for groups of 20+ tickets, are available via sales@showtime.co.za.

Please note: Ticketmaster is the exclusive official ticketing agent. Audiences are advised to purchase tickets only through authorised ticketing channels.