Meet the Abbamania Cast

Mark Thomas - Bjorn

Mark is a highly experienced musician who started playing at the age of ten, around the same time as Abba's Eurovision success (1974). He studied drums (his first instrument) with a local music teacher in Swansea, South Wales, and was soon working in his first band, playing the clubs and bars at the tender age of 12. At 16 Mark was playing with a band which secured a record contract, giving him his first taste of living and playing in London.

Moving to London broadened his musical experiences and allowed him to perform at prestigious venues, including the London Palladium and the Royal Festival Hall.

However, much of his time was spent elsewhere, as performances have taken him all over the world playing in countries including Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Luxembourg, Spain, Greece, the Balearics, the Canaries, Singapore, the USA, South Africa, Kenya, Oman, Bahrain, Bulgaria and the Ukrane.

Mark has performed on stage with the likes of Paul Young, Oleta Adams, Alexander O’Neal, Dudley Moore, The Foundations, The New Seekers, Hot Chocolate, Alvin Stardust, The Troggs, Freddie Starr and more, having both National and International radio and television appearances under his belt.

Mark has been performing as Bjorn for a number of years, playing 18 weeks in London ’s West End . He has also had the opportunity to travel the world including Germany , Austria , France and most recently playing to audiences in Venezuela , South America.

Mark hopes you enjoy the recreation of Abba’s live concert.

Carley Broom - Agnetha

Carley started performing at the age of 15 as a singer and her talents have taken her all over the world touring with various bands and shows ranging from musicals and jazz festivals to heavy rock.

In the UK Carley has toured with the National Youth Orchestra as lead vocalist, performing in venues nationwide, including Ronnie Scotts and the Jazz Café.

Carley understudied both Agnetha and Anni-Frid on the European tour and is now delighted to be playing Agnetha, and has just returned from performing in Caracas, Venezuela, South America.

When Carley is not performing with Abbamania she is often in the studio writing her own original material, along with being a fully qualified music teacher.

Jennifer Robb - Anni-Frid (Frida)

Jennifer comes from a musical family. She grew up in London and started her musical career singing and dancing as a little girl. She performed classical songs and sang the role of Papagena in the children’s version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the age of ten.

As a singer, actress and dancer, Jennifer then trained at the Andrew Hardy School of Dance and Drama, London . By the age of 21 Jennifer had toured Europe and Japan . Once back at home, she furthered her singing career by performing in London ’s West End.

Her love of travel then took her away on a magical journey all over the world, crusing with P & O and Princess Cruises. Back in the UK , she went on to support acts such as Mia Paris, Crystal Gayle and Rita Coolidge and was privileged to perform in front of HRH Prince Edward, Phil Colins and George Harrison.

Amongst her busy singing schedule she has found the time to fit in some acting work on National television, and working in London ’s rich music scene lead her to pursue her own love of songwriting and to work with many talented musicians/artistes on sessions and songwriting projects.

One of Jennifer’s more recent projects is her one woman show that she has performed nationally and created a stir with her unique and versatile smooth jazz vocal style. Jennifer has done several successful European tours with Abbamania the highlight being performing to ten thousand screaming fans at Koln Arena.

When not touring she loves singing in jazz venues such as Smolensky’s on the Strand , and the small intimate clubs in Soho and around London .

Phil Hawkes - Benny

Phil Hawkes was born at Plymouth and began learning the piano classically with his father and Gillian Eden-Walley aged seven.His musical career has taken him all over the world playing in many differing situations, although the main stay over the past twenty years has been in London's West End and number one national tours.His credits as pianist/keys or as assistant Musical Director include:42nd Street,Barnum,Blues in the Night,Cats ,Chess,Me and My Girl,Singin'In the Rain,The Who's Tommy,Copacabana,Doctor Doolittle, Chicago(also Beirut,Kuala Lumpar,Cyprus),Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,West Side Story The Sound of Music and Summer Holiday,he has also covered Spend,spend,spend and We will Rock you.

Phil is well regarded as an audition pianist and was involved in the casting of Baz Lurmanns Moulin Rouge.His television credits include Down to Earth(BBC),I Saw You(ITV),The Big Breakfast(Channel 4)and Peeble Mill at One.

He is Musical Director Of the singing group The Westenders which last year took him to New York , LA , Hawaii and the Netherlands .

Phil is genuinely enjoying his time with ABBAMANIA