Big MAMA is Back
MAMA’s Revue 2020 for Brunton Theatre
The Musselburgh Amateur Musical Association returns to the Brunton Theatre this week for their annual musical Revue.
The company is featuring an onstage cast of nearly 50 adults and children – with more working back stage – and will be performing a mix of songs from stage, screen and the charts, including a song or two from their forthcoming Spring production of Chess The Musical.
A scene from MAMA’s Revue 2019. Pic: MAMA
Although the company is keeping details of the Revue 2020 programme tight to its chest, some highlights from the selection have already been revealed. These include Wild Mountain Thyme, Copacabana, A little Less Conversation, Chelsea Dagger and You Walk With Me.
The company is coming up to its 70th anniversary and its production of 1980s hit musical Chess will be the 69th consecutive Spring performance since its first production in 1951, when it was originally formed as the Cooperative Musical Association.
The origins of the company stretch back to the autumn of 1950, when a few members of staff at the Musselburgh and Fisherrow Cooperative Society, along with some friends, got together to discuss the possibility of forming a company to perform a musical stage show, a popular and expanding form of entertainment at the time.
popular
Their successful meeting led to the decision to recruit interested local residents and start rehearsals for A Country Girl – James Tanner’s 1902 musical with music by Lionel Monckton which had become popular with amateur groups after the first world war. Although it has been little revived since 1960.
This year’s company for MAMA’s Revue 2020 line up. Pic: MAMA
The company’s name was later changed to Musselburgh Amateur Musical Association and A Country Girl duly opened at the Stoneyhill Community Centre in April 1951. The show was an immediate success and plans were soon made to establish a musical production as an annual event.
As it approaches its 70th year, MAMA continues to go from strength to strength. Besides performing every spring since 1951, it now also entertains Musselburgh audiences every winter with the annual Revue in the Brunton Theatre.
The company will return to The Brunton Theatre in April 2020 with the 1980’s hit Chess The Musical written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of the pop group ABBA, featuring the chart topping I Know Him So Well, sung originally by Barbara Dickson and Elaine Paige.
Listings & Links
MAMA’s Revue 2020
The Brunton, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, EH21 6AA.
Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 January 2020
Thurs – Sat: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Chess The Musical
The Brunton, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, EH21 6AA
Thursday 23 – Saturday 25 April 2020
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat mat: 2pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
MAMA Website: https://mamamusical.co.uk/
Facebook: @mamamusselburgh
Twitter: @MAMAmusselburgh
ENDS
