Brighton born and raised

Mamma Mia! The Party at London’s O2 alongside Peter Andre and Sam Bailey stretches ahead until next April for Brighton-born and raised Gabriella-Rose Marchant.

The show comes as a theatrical dining experience produced by Björn Ulvaeus, featuring ABBA’s greatest hits. Guests enjoy a four-course Greek feast in a custom-built Greek taverna while an original story unfolds around them. The evening ends with a fun-filled ABBA disco where guests can dance and sing along to all the hits.

And not surprisingly, Gabriella is loving it.

“It is just completely different to any other show on stage. It is just so immersive, and for the audience members I think that just heightens the experience. I've never been in a show where you are within seating distance to the performers. Being so close to the performers and to be able to feel the experience, I think is just not something that many shows do. There is fire and there is water and there is acrobatics and there is dancing and singing and there is a four-course meal as well. It is a full experience and at the end you get a great big party.

“It's a different story (to the well-known Mamma Mia! story). It has its own story. It's about a Greek guy that has a Greek daughter and runs a taverna and meets an Englishwoman. It's about him sharing his experiences and his taverna with the audience members but there is also a love interest in there. There is a lot of tongue in cheek and there are a lot of sad moments and there are a lot of really fun moments.

“I'm playing Nina. I'm understudying the lead singer but my main role is Nina who works in the taverna. She is a dancer and a singer. She is quite ballsy. She's quite confident. She is very sure of herself. She is not afraid to say what she thinks. She's working in the taverna and all she wants is for the English guy and the Greek girl to get together.”

Brighton-born and bred, Gabriella trained in musical theatre at Bird College and has since appeared in productions including Jersey Boys (NCL), On Your Feet! (UK Tour), Beetlejuice (NCL), La Bamba! (UK Tour), Barista – The Musical and The All or Nothing Experience (UK Tour).

“I went to Hove Park School and for college I went to BHASVIC (Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College). I started dancing at a dance school in Brighton and when I realised that that was what I really wanted to do, I studied at Bird College and did a three-year degree. I graduated in 2019 and I managed to do a show before Covid hit.

“I just love doing it. For me when I'm dancing on stage, I just forget about everything else. I just feel that that's where I belong. Being with fellow performers as well really helps. We are quite particular people! But I just feel so very much at home when I'm on the stage. It doesn't feel like work half the time. It's just really exciting and fun and different and where I want to be.”