This Mamma Mia! musical wannabe could be a chaotic mess, if not for an exceptional cast, with a terrific band (directed by John Hodgson) and sound design (Ben Harrison). While the story is untethered and bizarre, the songs of this tongue-in-cheek party musical will still get you dancing in the aisles.

The back catalogue of songs by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman dominated the charts in the eighties and nineties, creating the iconic “Stock Aitken Waterman“ sound of explosive drum machines and aggressive synth brass hooks. It’s about time they got a jukebox musical of their own.

The show’s writer and director Debbie Isitt is the obvious woman for the job, best known for creating the hugely successful Nativity! franchise, and the smash hit stage musical adaptation Nativity! The Musical. Unfortunately, Isitt’s book is way too bloated and confusing, with too many characters, and too few jokes. Isitt’s direction is stronger: big, broad, party comedy, with outrageously kitsch lighting (Howard Hudson) and production design (Tom Rogers).

But when the songs kick in, the show comes alive. The whole cast “understands the assignment”, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and some extraordinary vocals, particularly from jilted bride Ella (Lucie-Mae Sumner) and best man Ash (Giovanni Spanò). But honestly, the so-bad-it’s-good aesthetic and dementedly inconsistent plot are wearing thin by the end.

Touring the UK 1 November 2023 – 27 April 2024.