Feature: The Show Must Eurovision – A Celebration of Musical Theatre Eurovision Song Contest Stars – Part Three

The West End of London might be an epicentre for musical theatre, but it is not just UK Eurovision stars who have taken to the stage. An other Eurovision powerhouse country Sweden currently have six wins to their name, and also sparkling smorgasbord of representatives who have stood in the musical theatre spotlight.

Tommy Körberg

Considered one of Sweden's national treasurers, Tommy Körberg has represented Sweden twice at Eurovision. In 1969, coming ninth with Judy, min vän, and then again with Stad i ljus in 1988 coming 12th. In the theatre world he is most famous for playing Anatoly/"The Russian" on the concept album, and then in the West End production of Chess in 1986. A musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus from the Swedish Eurovision winning band ABBA. His performance gained him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. In his native Sweden he has played leading roles in Sound of Music, Les Misérables and My Fair Lady. In 2023 Körberg will return to the stage in the new musical Änglagård, co-written and directed by the Swedish Eurovision commentator Edward af Sillén.

Carola Häggkvist

As one of the few artists to ever represent their country three times at Eurovision, Carola Häggkvist first won the chance in 1983 at the age of 16 with the song Främling. After she finished third with her debut entry, she won the contest in 1991 with Fångad av en stormvind. It was not until 2005 that Häggkvist came back to Eurovision singing Invincible. Making her the artist with the second highest combined points score in the contest's history. Her musical theatre breakthrough came in 1995 as Maria in The Sound of Music. Starring alongside fellow Swedish Eurovision representative Tommy Körberg. Häggkvist briefly made a London West End debut as Fantine in Les Misérables. As part of her celebration of 40 years in the industry, she is due to perform a tour of her favourite musical theatre songs across Sweden in 2023.

Charlotte Perrelli

Having establish a name in the Swedish music industry as the lead singer of the band Wizex, Charlotte Perrelli won the chance to represent Sweden at Eurovision 1999 as a solo artist. Her song Take Me To Your Heaven went on to win the competition in Israel. As one of the favourites to win the contest again, Perrelli travelled to Serbia in 2008 with her Eurovision entry Hero. However this time she finished 18th overall. Her musical theatre career began as the lead role of Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. 2012 saw her take on the role of Eva Peron in the Malmö Opera production of Evita. Releasing a cover of Don't Cry for Me Argentina in both Swedish and English.

Måns Zelmerlöw

Proving that a third time is the charm, Måns Zelmerlöw won the Swedish national final Melodifestivalen on his third attempt in 2015. Heading to Vienna to with the song Heroes, that topped the scoreboard and gave Sweden their sixth Eurovision win. In the year before his first attempt to go to Eurovision, Zelmerlöw starred as Danny in the Malmo production of Grease. He then cut Footloose as Tommy in Gothenburg, before playing Romeo in a musical version of Romeo and Juliet in Stockholm. In 2013 he performed as Dante in the musical Spök, created by 1978 Swedish Eurovision artist Björn Skifs. The cast also featured Lena Philipsson who represented Sweden in 2004.

Photo Credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU

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