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Mamma Mia! has become the first Western musical to be translated into Mandarin. The ABBA-inspired show extended its global reach even further this week when a Chinese-language version of the production opened at Shanghai’s Grand Theatre. The musical is supported by the UK creative team and, despite one or two cultural differences, is almost exactly the same as the hugely successful version seen in the West End and around the world.

Chinese Audiences Take a Chance

Mamma Mia! is already a huge global phenomenon having been seen by over 45 million people from France and Spain to Russia and Korea. With a population of more than 1.3 billion, the Chinese market offers a potentially massive new audience. Mamma Mia! is expected to tour for at least a year, visiting Beijing and Guangzhou before heading to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Singapore.

An all-Chinese cast sees local actors play the famous roles, including Tian Shui as the dungaree wearing ‘Donna Sheridan’. Already thinking about the show’s legacy, Tian Shui said: "The musical will be accepted by Chinese audiences, especially younger people, because of fashion and pop, plus the themes resonate with audiences. This is a great start for the musical in China."

An Uplifting Story with the Music of ABBA

Written by Catherine Johnson, with creative input from ABBA members Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, Mamma Mia! tells the uplifting story of a young woman's quest to discover the identity of her father on the eve of her wedding. After discovering three possible names in her mother's old diary, the past meets the present when secret invitations are sent and the men arrive on the idyllic Greek island for an unexpected reunion