ABBA Voyage – a spellbinding futuristic glimpse into the past

Stunning, jaw-dropping, amazing – all adjectives that are banded about far too often in theatre reviews. But this is exactly that – and more.

ABBA Voyage gave us a glimpse of what the future may hold for pop music – the past. It really does need to be seen to be believed. 

As Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson’s digital selves rise up from the ground on their podiums for the first number – the title track from the 1981 album The Visitors – the reality is frighteningly impressive.

There is no doubt that if you did not know the avatars were, indeed simply digital recreations, you could be forgiven for thinking you were at a real gig. They are that convincing.

Myself and my 11-old-daughter, Nellie, who has inherited my love for Sweden’s most famous exports thanks to the Mamma Mia! films of recent years, were captivated.

The 95-minute concert is directed by Baillie Walsh and produced by Svana Gisla and Ludvig Andersson, and sees ABBA re-imagined as 21st century pop stars, with choreography by Wayne McGregor and costumes designed by B Åkerlund in collaboration with designers Dolce & Gabbana, Manish Arora, Erevos Aether and Michael Schmidt. 

Alongside some of their greatest hits, the concert includes songs from Voyage, the band’s first album in 40 years.

The opening The Visitors is futuristic, a diversion from the poppy numbers most associate with this band, but works perfectly as the opening track as the audience comes to terms with just how utterly spellbinding the next hour-and-a-half of their lives will be.

The accompanying big screens either side of the stage reflect their faces and perfect late 1970s dance moves – and only enhance the belief that this really is one of the biggest pop groups of all time performing, in their very prime, right before your eyes.

Hole in Your Soul, from 1977s ABBA album, is a more upbeat, poppy number, and it is not long before we are taken through many of the biggest hits.

The haunting introduction to SOS, the third song, draws us for the first time to Benny’s piano. It’s a reminder of what a masterful pianist he was, while enhancing the amazement of just how brilliant the work of Industrial Light & Magic, the company which put this all together, is.

The hits then flow, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Chiquitita, Fernando, Mamma Mia and Does Your Mother Know get the audience on their feet. The only unnecessary thing about this whole performance is the arm waving crew members who run past trying to drum up excitement – it really is not needed. The show does everything it needs to – and more.

The middle section is dominated by the lesser known Eagle, again from the fifth studio Album ABBA in 1977. It is backed by animated accompaniment on the screens – as the avatars allegedly change costumes.

ABBA – sorry, the digital versions – then return clad in futuristic robotic costumes for Lay All Your Love on Me, to a rapturous reception which would seem strange if all this wasn’t so convincing.

Summer Night City, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, Voulez-vous, When All Is Said And Done, Don’t Shut Me Down and I Still Have Faith In You take the audience though the middle section, before the finale.

Waterloo is accompanied by video footage from its debut at the 1974 Brighton Eurovision Song Contest – the night where it all started.

Thank You For The Music and Dancing Queen end the gig before the encore – what else but The Winner Takes It All. Oh how could Bjorn ask Agnetha to sing that? 

But that’s another story. For now, just get on the train to Stratford and watch this. It doesn’t matter what it costs – it’s worth every penny. Save up, you have until November. You must not miss it.

• ABBA Voyage is now booking until November 25, 2024 at the ABBA Arena, Stratford. For information and best availability of tickets go to www.abbavoyage.com

Pictured top: The Visitors – ABBA Voyage (Picture: Johan Persson)