THE SMASH hit musical Mamma Mia! will come to Harewood House this summer.

The feel-good show will be staged in the open air for the first time in the grounds of the stately home from August 13 to August 30. Tickets are on sale to the public from 10am on Friday, March 19.

Playing 23 performances, this will be part of a UK and international tour celebrating 22 years since Mamma Mia! premiered in London in April 1999.

Audiences will be invited to fall in love with the “irresistibly funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless songs.”

Since premiering in London’s West End more than 21 years ago the world’s “sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical” has been turned into two record-breaking films - Mamma Mia! The Movie and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Now audiences can enjoy a picnic and enjoy the show live against the backdrop of Harewood House - the only chance to see the show in the UK in 2021 outside of London.

Judy Craymer, Creator and Producer, said:‘‘It’s going to be wonderful to experience the original musical literally under the stars in the beautiful grounds of Harewood House. Mamma Mia! lends itself perfectly to the outdoors and what better way to leave lockdown than to be transported to our sunny Greek idyll. As we look forward to Mamma Mia!’s return to the West End, we can’t wait for you to join us in the open air for the first time eve.”

The cast at Harewood House will include Sara Poyzer (Donna Sheridan), Nicky Swift (Rosie), Helen Anker (Tanya), Richard Standing (Sam Carmichael), Daniel Crowder (Harry Bright) and Jamie Kenna (Bill Austin). Further casting is to be announced.

To date, Mamma Mia! has been seen by over 65 million people in 50 productions in 16 different languages. In 2011 it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China. It also became the eighth longest running show in Broadway history where it played a record-breaking run for 14 years.

Produced by Judy Craymer, Mamma Mia! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008. A second film, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, opened in July 2018 and is the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time.

With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

The Mamma Mia! UK & International Tour is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal and NGM.

At Harewood Monday to Sunday performances are at 8pm. There are also 2pm performances on Saturday and Sunday and on Monday, August 30.Tickets cost from £39.50. www.mamma-mia.com 0344 338 800. To sign-up for pre-sale tickets visit:

www.mamma-mia.com/harewood-house