Worcestershire | Archive | 2003 | November | 07
From the archive, first published Friday 7th Nov 2003.
PLATFORM boots, glitter eyes shadow and funky flares will be all the rage when Mamma Mia - The Concert takes to the stage.
The touring show, will be coming to the Town Hall in Imperial Square, Cheltenham on Sunday, November 23.
Four acts are packed into Mamma Mia's concert show including a 60s special, featuring a tribute to Lulu, and a fast-moving Grease spectacular.
Topping the bill are Bee Gees Magic and Abba Magic stage shows.
Abba Magic features all of the Abba's umpteen hits including Dancing Queen, Winner Takes It All and Mamma Mia.
Martin Spooner who stars in Mamma Mia said his heart was beating when the real Agnetha Faltskog of Abba was in the audience for the show in Kenya, when she was on holiday there.
"To say we were nervous about purring on a good show is an understatement," said Martin.
"Agnetha's famed for not being particularly outgoing - preferring to live deep in the Swedish countryside keeping herself to herself, so we weren't disappointed that we didn't get to meet her after the show.
"She was on holiday after all.
"But the hotel's owner said to us Agnetha told him she loved the show and thought our performance was spot on."
Martin, who also plays Robin Gibb in Bee Gee's Magic said the Bee Gee's tribute band also got to play in all places Iraq!
"We were the first Western artists to play Iraq in 35 years after Saddam had outlawed the music," said Martin.
It was certainly an experience with the performers kept under armed guard.
"We were flown in from Kuwait by Chinook helicopter to entertain the British troops as it was too dangerous to travel by road."
The trio played to 3,000 troops a night in Basra and Northern Iraq for the British Government-commissioned shows and had the problem of coping with the searing heat.
"The coolest it got was 30C at night," he said.
"In the day when we were setting up the hottest it reached 62C.
"On one occasion we played in a sandstorm - well, you can't let 3,000 squaddies down just because it's a bit windy."
It was also an eye-opener to the way the native Iraqis feel about their country being occupied by foreigners.
"The Iraqis hate the Americans but love the British," said Martin.
"I put our troops popularity down to them integrating more with the local people.
"There were Iraqis in the audience at our gigs."
Martin is joined in the band by Lee Stewart who plays Barry Gibb and Peter Dedman who plays Maurice.
Bee Gees Magic enjoyed their overseas adventure but are looking forward to their forthcoming British tour with Mamma
For tickets or more details of the Cheltenham gig, call the box office on 01242 227979.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008