Mamma Mia! set to be staged at Forum North

The cast take their first walk around the set.

A truck-load of sets has arrived in Whangarei for the Mamma Mia! stage show opening next week at Forum North.

Those sets, depicting main character Donna's home in a village on a Greek island, mean rehearsals can soon move out of a temporary venue and onto the stage.

Director Lachie McLean said he does not want to tempt fate but, "Everything's gone so smoothly so far. It's a very strong line-up of principals, all very good."

Mr McLean is again joined by musical director Roger McClean and choreographer Kate Aukett, making up the award-winning trio behind Miss Saigon and Cats.

Having a tougher job than he expected with ABBA pop songs, Mr McClean said the music has complex harmonies and arrangements. He has been involved in the musical side of numerous amateur theatre productions. He regularly performs as a piano accompanist and is the conductor for the Whangarei Youth Orchestra.

He and Lachie McLean have worked together many times, the first being in 1982 when Mr McClean was a boy playing the part of Kurt in Otamatea Repertory Theatre's production of The Sound of Music.

After completing a three-year Dance and Musical Theatre course at Laine Theatre Arts School in London, Whangarei resident Ms Aukett worked in London and the United States, on Disney movies and as a freelance teacher and choreographer.

The incomparable Joan Kennaway is assisting with Mamma Mia! as vocal director.

Lighting director Joel Underwood has returned to his hometown, Whangarei, direct from working on Carousel in London's West End, to help with the show. Another member of "the dream team" is technical director James Franklin.

The show is at Forum North from June 16 until July 8.