In just over a week's time, Furey Theatre Company will bring Mamma Mia to the Highlands.

A fun, upbeat production with plenty of ABBA music to keep everyone dancing in their seats, the cast agree it will be the perfect way to finish the year.

Opening night will be on December 10, with the show held at Clubbe Hall, Frensham.

Travis Neale, who plays Eddie, almost wasn't involved in the production.

He already had a busy year lined up when Furey Theatre Company approached him about Mamma Mia.

But then Covid-19 struck and he was thrilled to be able to join the production.

He has been involved in theatre in the Highlands for the past 10 years and has been in several musicals with SHYAC since 2012.

But Travis said Mamma Mia was different from anything he had done before.

"It's such an enjoyable process with such a professional team as well.

"My character Eddie is such a trickster, he finds it difficult to distinguish when is serious and when is fun. He's always just having a laugh on stage. It's good to get on stage and goof around and it's so much fun to just let go after the year we've had."

James Mikic, who will play Sky, has grown up watching Mamma Mia.

And while he had strong ideas on how the character should be played, he said it was also a little daunting being in a production where everyone in the audience would have their own expectations.

"There's so many expectations you're trying to fulfil when you're doing something like Mamma Mia because everyone knows it and it can be a bit daunting trying to do that but it's also very exciting," he said.

"This production has got an incredible cast and [it's great] working with people that are all in the same boat and all have the same ideas of what we want to get out of this show. It will be about supplying joy to people that have had a rough year."

James got into theatre when he started drama in Year 11 at Chevalier College.

Since then has has been in Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery where he played several different roles in 2018 and last year he was Khashoggi in We Will Rock You.

"The diversity of the roles I've played is something I really enjoy. I don't want to just do the same thing over and over again."

Steve Facey (Bill), Anna Crawford (Donna) and Jono Freeman (Sam) are all no strangers to the stage.

All three said they were impressed with the talent of everyone involved in the production.

"In Sydney they have a very strong model of professional and amateur shows and they're really high quality shows. I wondered what it would be like coming down here but really you've got a bunch of professionals here doing it again because they want to get back into it," Steve said.

"They're top class talent and people are going to see this show and go holey moley. It's as good as anything you'll see in Sydney hands down."

As well as the acting, Anna said the band was "amazing".

"They will blow people's minds."

And while everyone will love the ABBA soundtrack that accompanies the show, Anna said the show itself had a "positive, uplifting message".

"It sends out a really positive message about families and all their shapes and forms and following your heart and living life with no regrets."

While the musical may be one of the most well-known in the world, Jono said this Highlands production was "in good hands" with director Andrew Doyle and audiences would enjoy a high quality show.

"It has this amazing score and it is a story that people can connect with. So in the right hands it can be great," he said."

Anna said they were grateful to Furey Theatre Company for making the decision to go ahead with the show and with limited seating encouraged people to book early online.

Visit https://fureytheatre.org/ to book tickets. The show will run from December 10 through to December 20 with evening and matinee performances.

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