Take a chance on me! My pitch to Bjorn and Benny
It took Mamma Mia! creator Judy Craymer more than a decade to persuade Abba’s Bjorn and Benny to agree to a musical.
She first worked with them when she was Tim Rice’s assistant on Chess, the show he wrote with Ulvaeus and Andersson.
“I started talking to them about it in the mid-80s, and it was around 1995 when Bjorn said, ‘If you can get the right story, maybe,’” explained Judy.
Judy began talking to scriptwriter Catherine Johnson, who had written a play called Shang-a-Lang, about three women who turn 40 in a holiday camp where their idols the Bay City Rollers are playing.
Judy continued: “I explained my thoughts and Catherine said, ‘What about a mother-daughter story?’ and that was it.
“We tentatively pitched it to Bjorn and Benny and it kind of worked from there. They trusted me.
“They didn’t say, ‘Bring in a star team’. They let us nurture it.
“I think timing was everything. It probably wouldn’t have worked 10 years before in the same way.”
As well as the standout songs, Judy thinks the show’s success is its feelgood plot.
“The show has a big heart and people love it, so they return. People also like to see it in a community atmosphere.
“They like to bring friends and family. Kids are brought up on the DVD of the movie and now is their chance to see the show.”
Judy can still vividly remember the first time the show was performed to an audience.
“They stood up and cheered at the end and everyone was dancing. Someone said to me, ‘This is just the first preview audience, don’t expect this to happen again’.
“People have been dancing to the end of the show ever since.
“On one occasion, the cast of the show were joined by Abba’s Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
“She came in quietly one night and wanted no fuss, but she loved the show so much that she asked if she could go on stage at the end with the cast.
“She sang Dancing Queen in front of the audience. And that was her quiet night out!”