Since their break-up in 1982, Abba tribute shows have popped up around the world to celebrate the supergroup and revisit their songs for old and new fans.
One of the most long-lasting and well-known is Mania – The Abba Tribute, first performed in 1999 in the UK.
The tribute concert has since been performed more than 3,000 times in 35 countries, many of which sold out.
Supergroup Abba singer makes comeback as solo artist
Supergroup Abba singer makes comeback as solo artist
The Abba success story began in 1974 when the band performed the song “Waterloo” at the Eurovision Song Contest and won Sweden its first trophy in the world’s biggest music competition.
With 2024 marking 50 years since the Swedish band’s Eurovision win, the touring production is coming to Hong Kong for two shows at the AIA Carnival on Saturday, January 20.
The Abba tribute concerts form part of a series of live entertainment performances at the AIA Carnival between January 17 and 24.
The two-hour show will feature four lead performers and a three-piece live band.
One of the performers is Tasmin Stewart, who plays Fältskog. She tells the Post she had wondered if “the magic for this music” would dissipate as the audience inevitably ages and stops going to the theatre.
“But the amazing thing with Abba is that a new generation of people have [been introduced] because of the movie franchise.”
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, the 2008 musical romcom Mamma Mia! was based on the 1999 eponymous stage musical written by Catherine Johnson, which in turn was based on Abba’s songs and named after the group’s 1975 hit single “Mamma Mia”.
Stewart is glad that “the theatres are still packed out” with mature audience members who remember Abba from way back when, as well as younger people who appreciate the songs despite not having experienced the supergroup in its heyday.
In the years after their Eurovision win, the group continuously topped charts worldwide with bestselling albums, and were one of the first musical acts from a non-English-speaking country to achieve such consistent success in English-speaking countries.
The show opens with a nod to Eurovision as Abba’s breakthrough moment and gradually builds towards the crescendo of “Dancing Queen”. The performers change into a simpler, classic, all-black look for “Money, Money, Money”.
Act two is “a representation of the last-ever tour they did together”, Stewart says, with mesmerising costumes in white and gold, including “gorgeous gold-sequinned capes”.
“The energy is off the scale.” She adds: “From act two to the end, everybody is just partying and loving the music – it’s amazing.”
“In some shows, you have to pretend the audience isn’t there, whereas with our show, it’s all about connecting with the audience throughout and breaking down that wall.”
The audience can expect all of their favourite Abba hits performed in a respectful and energetic way
Producer Todd Littlewood has been involved with Mania for more than 20 years. He says there are about 200 shows each year in different time zones and languages.
“Producing the show is interesting, crazy, beautiful, frustrating, time-consuming, rewarding and exciting all at once,” he says.
Still, Littlewood is looking forward to coming to Hong Kong. “We love performing in Asia – the audience can expect all of their favourite Abba hits performed in a respectful and energetic way with beautiful costumes, impressive production values and an ‘Abba-solutely’ fabulous time for all ages.”
Mania – The ABBA Tribute, two shows at 4pm and 8pm on January 20.
The AIA Carnival, Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central. January 17 to January 24. Tickets start at HK$100.