Arts & Culture
Kirtlington gets ABBA Mania

The ABBA tribute show heads outdoors as part of the Sounds in the Grounds event on 14 August, following its critically acclaimed West End run. 

The Sounds in the Grounds event is made up of live outdoor concerts where members of the public can enjoy the show from designated, socially distanced picnic patches at the Kirlington Park Polo Club. 

ABBA Mania aims to bring ABBA’s last ever concert to life again with a two-hour production celebrating the band’s greatest hits. 

Performers Tamsin Stewart (Taboo, West End; Romeo &Juliet The Musical, West End), Jojo Desmond (Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake’s Lead Vocalist, Doctor Who Live, UK Arena Tour), Edward Handoll (BIG The Musical, West End; Saturday Night Fever, UK Tour), and Loucas Hajiantoni (One Night of Tina, European Tour) will be taking their roles as the four members of the Swedish 70s supergroup. Stewart will also be directing and choreographing the production.

A spokesperson for the event said: “This concert is perfect for life-long ABBA fans and newcomers alike. Dig out your platforms and enjoy all your favourite hits including Mamma Mia, Voulez Vous, Dancing Queen, Winner Takes It All, Waterloo, Fernando, Does Your Mother Know, Super Trouper and many more.” 

Also joining the production is previous ABBA Mania cast member, Duncan Walsh Atkins, as Musical Supervisor.

Producer Todd Littlewood said: “After a fantastic run in the West End, we’re so excited to bring the feel good music of ABBA to audiences across the country, for a showstopping sing-along. An evening of electrifying song and dance is the perfect tonic to the past 15 months, and we can’t wait to celebrate with the audience.” 

Supporting the cast will be the ABBA MANIA band. Paul Gregory (The Book of Mormon, West End UK and international tour and The Lion King, UK tour) will lead on drums with Dan Hall (The Drifters, UK and Ireland tour; The Blues Brothers, UK and Japan tour) on bass guitar and Anders Rye (The Blues Brothers, UK and Ireland tour; Rat Pack, world tour) on guitar. 

ABBA MANIA has been performed to more than three million audience members since its formation in 1999, performing over 3,000 live shows in 30 countries across the world – from Germany to Tahititi, Sweden to Venezuela, USA to Australia. For the first time since 2002, West End audiences will have the opportunity to relive the era when ABBA ruled the airwaves. 

Following the Sounds in the Grounds dates, ABBA MANIA will be heading to The Legends Festival, followed by a full UK tour this autumn. There will also be a 55-date US tour, a debut Russian tour and a 25-date arena tour in France throughout 2021 and 2022. 

Review Information

With on your feet, toe-tapping, arms in the air hits from start to finish, this is a girl’s night out. And bring the fellas cos they’ll love it too! 

5/5 Theatre Reviews Design 

ABBA MANIA is everything you would hope for from an ABBA Tribute show- packed full of ABBA hits, high energy, great vocals from the cast and most of all so so so feel good 

4/5 Musical Theatre Musings 

More information about Sounds in the Grounds and about tickets can be found at https://soundsinthegrounds.seetickets.com/venue/kirtlington-park-polo-club/24212/list

More information about The Legends Festival can be found at https://www.legendsfestival.co.uk/ 

  • Kirtlington gets ABBA Mania
  • Kirtlington gets ABBA Mania
  • Kirtlington gets ABBA Mania
  • Kirtlington gets ABBA Mania
  • Kirtlington gets ABBA Mania