‘Mamma Mia’ staged to brilliance at city school

Strawberry Fields High School has never been shy about placing the arts at the centre of its educational ethos, but this year’s production of ‘Mamma Mia!’ goes far beyond the boundaries of a typical school performance.

Under the direction of theatre veterans Lushin Dubey and Bubbles Sabharwal, the students delivered a show, sponsored by The Tribune, that felt every bit as polished, exuberant and theatrically sophisticated.

From the moment the overture kicked in, the auditorium was transformed. ABBA’s beloved soundtrack was handled with remarkable confidence by the young cast. What was most striking was the precision: harmonies landed cleanly, choreography was tight yet unforced and the performers moved with an ease that belied their age.

The direction was deft, capturing the sun-drenched playfulness of the Greek island setting while grounding the production in real emotional texture. Scenes gilded seamlessly from comedy to tenderness. The use of lighting, bold, dynamic and at moments almost cinematic, elevated the performance further, shaping mood as sharply as any line of dialogue.

Whether powering through crowd-pleasers like “Dancing Queen” and “Voulez-Vous” or navigating quieter character moments, the students brought sincerity and charisma to their roles.

The school’s long-standing emphasis on theatre, music and the performing arts was visible in every thoughtfully executed detail. “More than an extracurricular activity, the arts here are treated as an essential component of education, one that nurtures confidence, empathy, collaboration and creativity,” said school director Atul Khanna.

What the audience witnessed was not a “school play” but a full-bodied artistic production, resonant, exuberant and crafted with care. Mamma Mia! continues tomorrow with two more shows, offering audiences a wonderful opportunity to witness this vibrant, Broadway-style experience.