The Novello is Mammafied!

[Jonwo]

Was walking down the Strand and passed the Novello which now got the signage for Mamma Mia which is moving there in two weeks. It will be interesting to see how it does in its new home but it does look nice.

[Phantom of London]

I wonder if the show is going to get new sets? It would be nice if the show got a new set after more than 13 years (unsure if the show got a make over after leaving the Prince Edward in 2004?), would definitely make the production more vibrant.

[Phantom of London]

Also I wonder if the Novello is going tho have that heavy proscenium like the Prince of Wales?

[Jonwo]

Can't imagine the existing set fitting on the Novello stage, I think they'll use one of the smaller sets that was used for the Toronto production.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Picture from the official Mamma Mia Twitter:

[AvenueQResident]

I like the silvery arch border around Sophie. Wonder how that would look at night.

[Jonwo]

I took a picture of the Novello but I'm not sure how to upload it here. Can someone remind how to do it?

[Justin D]

i think its hard to tell from that shot, i was expecting more stuff.

I think the show will fit in there nicely, there isnt a ton of wing space, I think only really on one side, the other side they probably will cram in the singing booths (unless the theatre has a basement)

The 'houses' probably wont be able to go right offstage at the end of the show, I think they only really get that done in NY. and the heavy proscenium just looks heavy and they managed to fit the full set into the tiny theatre in Toronto so they would be fine.

Hope someone posts some interior pics too

[ClapYo'Hands]

When they first released designs, the marquee was going to be blue which I think would look classier. I've never seen this show but probably will now since The Novello is my favourite theatre.

[Phantom of London]

Going back to the set, all I seem to remember about the set is the house/taverna, which I believe stays on stage the whole time, except the end, which has been alluded to earlier in this thread.

Obviously the interior of the set has to be new and I imagine the build team will be hard working already constructing the new set, I just hope the main focal the houses/taverna are new and also hope the producer has bought all new costumes.

I guess the lighting is being brought over from the Prince of Wales and needs a week breaks for the lights to be re-spotted, I read lights are normally hired, but I guess a production as secure and confident of a long sit down, such as Mamma Mia, would buy theirs? cheaper in the long run.

[Jonwo]

The show finishes on the 1st September at the Prince of Wales and then reopens on the 6th September at the Novello so I imagine the bulk of the work is being done at the moment.

I wonder how quickly the marquee for Let it Be will go up, will be odd seeing the Prince of Wales without Mamma Mia signage on it.

[Justin D]

also, when it does open, the dead give away if they are using one of the old tour sets is the taverna, if it looks like a bunch of rectangles rather than the sloping semi-circle, then its the tour.

Also (since I only saw the London version at the Prince Edward) when it moved to POW, did they automate the taverna? I remember at the Edward the cast pushing it about the stage. Havent seen that at ahy of the other versions, so not sure if that's how it was at the Edward or if maybe something was not working the night.

[TerryLondon2]

HI, Original set was pushed round by cast at Prince Edward. Was only automated when they transferred to Prince of Wales. Think I remember that original set was very cheap as they had no idea if the show was going to be successful, when it started all those years ago.

[DanielWhit]

The design it's mentioned that they released before was not genuine - that was fan made. Until we see this in the dark, it's a bit hard to gauge how it really looks.

Worth saying the Prince of Wales doesn't exactly have a lot of stuff outside it either, it's just aided by the sea of blue within the theatre in amplifying what everyone remembers of the marquee set-up.

[mfan123]

Anyone seen it since its move to the novello? whats the opinion, any real change?

[Justin D]

There was a photo spread on here recently with the new cast, and they are NOT using the tour set with the rectangle buildings, the only minor change is for some reason the legs coming down the sides seem to curve slightly inwards, it looks nice and cute i think, like how nice and snug the Toronto production was.