Mamma Mia! Workshop & Relaxed Performance Review

Archive review: This post preserves our family experience of a Mamma Mia! relaxed performance and theatre workshop at the Novello Theatre in London in 2017. Rather than turning an older visit into a current guide, I’ve kept the original experience at the heart of the post because it shows why accessible and relaxed theatre can matter so much to families.

Our Mamma Mia! Relaxed Performance Experience

I had already seen Mamma Mia! before this visit, so I was excited to return to the Novello Theatre and experience the show in a completely different way: at a relaxed performance with KK.

Relaxed performances are designed for people who may benefit from a more flexible theatre environment, including autistic people and people with sensory, communication or learning disabilities. The atmosphere can therefore be different from a standard West End performance, with audiences given more freedom around movement and noise.

For families who may worry about whether their child will sit silently through a conventional performance, that more accepting atmosphere can make theatre feel much more achievable.

The Mamma Mia! Theatre Workshop

Before the performance we attended a workshop. We met up with Lou and Hope, friends we had made through our previous Wicked experience, and with all of us loving ABBA, being Dancing Queens for the day sounded pretty perfect.

The workshop got the girls involved in drama and play, acting out scenes and using their imaginations rather than simply waiting for the performance to begin. It was active, fun and kept them on their feet.

What I Thought of the Workshop

I thought the workshop was great fun and the staff running it were friendly and welcoming. It gave the girls something practical and creative to take part in, rather than theatre being something that only happened on the stage in front of them.

My main reservation was simply how long the whole day became once the workshop and performance were combined. There was not much time to go and get food, although we did have snacks while we were there. For families planning a similar workshop-and-show day, that is something I would definitely think about in advance.

Why Relaxed Performances Matter

This visit was part of our family’s early experience of relaxed theatre. One of the biggest differences is knowing that the audience does not have to conform to the usual expectation of remaining completely quiet and still throughout a performance.

That does mean anyone attending should expect a different audience atmosphere, including more movement or noise. But that flexibility is exactly what can allow people who might otherwise find a conventional theatre environment difficult to experience a West End musical.

Accessibility and SEN Theatre

Accessibility is not only about physically getting into a theatre. Sensory needs, communication, expectations around behaviour and the confidence to leave or take a break can all affect whether a family feels able to book a show.

Our experiences with relaxed theatre helped us learn what worked for our family and made future theatre visits feel less daunting. If you’re considering one for the first time, read our Accessible Theatre Guide to Relaxed Performances and our practical relaxed-performance tips for SEN families.

Planning a Workshop and Theatre Day

If you are combining a theatre workshop with a performance, my biggest practical tip from this visit is to treat it as a full day. Check timings beforehand, work out where and when you can eat, bring any sensory or comfort items you normally rely on and find out what quiet or breakout arrangements the venue provides.

Accessibility arrangements vary between productions and performances, so always check the current information directly with the theatre or organiser rather than relying on the arrangements described in this 2017 archive review.

Looking Back

What stands out to me now is that the day was about much more than seeing Mamma Mia!. The workshop gave the children permission to participate, play and be part of theatre, while the relaxed performance created an environment where families did not have to spend the whole show worrying about whether they were behaving in the ‘right’ way.

That is why I wanted to preserve this older review. Accessible theatre has become an important part of Clarissa’s Corner, and experiences like this were part of where that journey began.