Last year, for my birthday, I watched ABBA perform in London. Except they weren’t really there. They were avatars—or, in this case, ABBAtars. No phones were allowed, and I had no idea what to expect. In a nutshell, it blew my mind.
ABBA has done the unthinkable. The digital experience takes place in a purpose-built 3,000-capacity venue situated near Stratford in East London. Therefore, it’s designed to be shipped anywhere, but it won’t be leaving the capital anytime soon.
It was announced that the production is expected to continue until 2026, and recently it celebrated its third anniversary. As a special treat, the show has included several new songs in its setlist, and I knew I had to go back again for round two.
I was intrigued to see which crowd-pleasers they had included, and there are some serious bangers that come to mind. Super Trouper, Angeleyes, Take A Chance, One Of Us – I could go on.
For those who are not familiar with the concept of ABBA Voyage, the production uses cutting-edge technology to recapture the essence of the band in its prime. One thousand animators worked on digitising footage of the four members, whilst using surround sound of 291 speakers and a 10-piece band.
Now, onto the experience. I had already gotten used to the avatars during my first visit, which were flawless and somehow more alive than most performers I’ve seen in real life. But the biggest surprise was when they began to sing Take A Chance On Me.
My jaw dropped. This is one of my favourite feel-good songs from the Swedish pop legends. With barely a moment to recover, we were then treated to Money, Money Money. A cacophony of screaming and cheering filled the air. The wonderful emotions of sharing this experience with thousands of others is truly impossible to beat.
Of course, they played classics such as Waterloo, Dancing Queen, and The Winner Takes It All, which luckily hadn’t been removed from the setlist. The production lasts around one hour and thirty minutes, but I wanted more.
It’s a light and sound extravaganza that makes you question what is real and what isn’t. Even if you aren’t an ABBA fan, it’s an experience that everyone should go and see. I command you to book your tickets.