Ring Ring! Calling all ABBA fans! Saturday 22 February is the Arrival of ABBACHOIR at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Get ready to immerse yourself in timeless ABBA classics that will have you dancing, singing, and clapping all night long. ABBACHOIR is more than just a show — it’s an interactive, joyous, celebration of ABBA’s timeless hits, and it’s coming to Adelaide’s Her Majesty Theatre for one show only!
Led by superstar Craig McLachlan who is stepping out of his ABBA closet to guide you through a night of ABBA magic, where you’re not just a spectator – you’re part of the choir! On top of this, the choir direction for ABBACHOIR will be in the expert hands of Vanessa Scammell, an acclaimed conductor with an impressive repertoire. Vanessa has conducted everything from symphony orchestras to musical theatre, bringing her signature style to every performance.
In the lead up to ABBACHOIR, Glam Adelaide spoke to Craig about the show, ABBA’s music and what it is about the performing arts that he finds so infectious.
“I was chatting to Vanessa Scammell, who is joining me for ABBACHOIR, about this when we were up in Queensland at the end of last year. When I was about 11 years old I stepped in and played rhythm guitar for a local dance band. The rest of the band were mostly older guys, many of whom were local school teachers I knew from school. I had been learning guitar for a few years, and their rhythm guitarist fell ill and I was thrown down the deep end and asked to play. I remember we played the song Simple Simon Says and they threw to me to play the guitar solo in it. I played it note perfect and the crowd reaction was huge. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to perform. it really was just the desire to share that feeling and to have that feeling with an audience.”
We asked Craig what it is about ABBA’s music that he loves, and what makes it as popular today as when it was first released.
“Oh my goodness, where do we start?” Craig laughed. “Do you know what I mean though? I remember hearing Mamma Mia on local radio for the first time in the mid-seventies. Then a few days later, I saw the film clip on the TV. I thought that song absolutely rocked. What captured me as a kid was getting my hand around those chords on my guitar and learning to play their absolutely sensational, catchy numbers. Also, as a young impressionable kid who loved music, I was completely swept up in the glam-tastic costumes and the platform boots and all the rest of it.”
Whether you’re a long-time ABBAholic or new to the ABBA craze, ABBACHOIR welcomes everyone to join in the fun.
“Don’t get scared by the word ‘choir’. I promise that Vanessa and I aren’t going to drag you up on stage and put a spotlight on you and make you sing the most difficult harmony. The producers arrived at that name for the show because ‘choir’ suggests a lot of voices singing together. We discovered in Brisbane how quickly people got into this show. We had around 1500 people in the venue and the sound they produced was huge. Vanessa, who is playing keys, and myself on guitar, we couldn’t hear ourselves. We ended up just following the audience. The audience become the ultimate stars of the show.”
Is dressing up encouraged?
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t even ask me that question! That’s like saying does Santa have a beard? Yes, please! Absolutely! There were some great cozzies and frocks up in Brisbane when we did it late last year. It really made the night! So Adelaide, by all means, frock up, please frock up.”
ABBACHOIR, featuring Craig McLachan and Vanessa Scammell will be at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday 22 February at 7.00pm
Get your Dancing Queens together and come and say Thank You For The Music.
Further information and tickets can be found at: https://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/abbachoir
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