From Waterloo to Wearside - Mamma Mia arrives at Sunderland Empire

For the next four weeks the musical based around the music of ABBA will be bringing hits, such as Dancing Queen, Gimme Gimme Gimme and Thank You for the Music, to life on the Empire stage.

The musical, which spawned the hit film starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, is set on a Greek island and follows Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known.

To mark the show’s arrival, the blue carpet was rolled out for last night’s press night and The Dynamos - Donna Sheridan, played by Helen Hobson, Tanya, played by Emma Clifford and Rosie, played by Gillian Hardie - struck a pose at the theatre’s landmark tower.

Nikki Davis-Jones, resident director of the tour, says the show is already proving popular.

She said: “We opened on Tuesday night and the crowd were up on their feet singing and dancing along. It’s such a feel good show and everyone knows all the music.

“The songs are such classics. The Winner Takes It All has to be one of the best songs ever written.”

To date, Mamma Mia has been seen by more than 60 million people in 50 productions in 16 different languages with the spin-off film becoming the highest worldwide grossing live-action musical film of all time.

•Mamma Mia is running at Sunderland Empire until November 11. Tickets from are available from Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022 or online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland

•Read our review of Mamma Mia HERE.