Helen Hobson Returns To MAMMA MIA!, From Sept 24

Helen Hobson will return to the role of Donna Sheridan in the global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! from Monday 24 September, less than three weeks after the musical, now in its 14th year in London, has transferred from the Prince of Wales Theatre to its new home, the Novello Theatre.

Helen last played the role of Donna in 2007. She has also starred with Michael Ball in Stephen Sondheim's Passion, was personally chosen by Cliff Richard to be his Cathy in Heathcliff - The Musical, and she has the rare distinction of having played both Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers. Donna is currently being played by Sally Ann Triplett, who will be leaving the production on 22 September to begin rehearsals for the new musical Viva Forever!.

Helen will be joining the cast who can currently be seen on stage at the Prince of Wales Theatre until 1 September and will then be moving to the Novello from 6 September. This cast includes Joanna Monro as Rosie, Kim Ismay as Tanya, Gary Milner as Sam Carmichael, Neil Roberts as Harry Bright, James Gaddas as Bill Austin, Charlotte Wakefield as Sophie Sheridan, Andreas Gyllander as Sky, Abiola Ogunbiyi as Ali, Tasha Taylor Johnson as Lisa, Steven Oliver as Pepper and Liam Doyle as Eddie. At certain performances, the role of Donna Sheridan is played by Claire Poyzer.

MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise. To date, it has been seen by more than 50 million people in 37 productions in 14 different languages grossing more than $2 billion at the box office. MAMMA MIA! the Movie is the highest grossing musical film and one in four households in the UK has the DVD.

From West End to global phenomenon, the London production of MAMMA MIA! has now been seen by more than 1 in 10 of the entire UK population. It is one of only five musicals to have run for more than 10 years both on Broadway and in the West End, and last year, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Chinese in the People’s Republic of China.

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.