Interview: ''It's Been a Blast': TV Competition Winners Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley on Joining MAMMA MIA! in the West End

BroadwayWorld recently attended a rehearsal of Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre in the West End. The cast and crew are preparing for Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley, the winners of the Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream televised competition, to join the show as Sophie and Sky.

While on the television show, contestants went through several challenges including workshops, masterclasses and performances with Mamma Mia! choreographer Anthony Van Lasst and musical maestro Martin Lowe. After making it to the final four, being judged by Alan Carr, Jessie Ware, Amber Riley and Samantha Barks, the public then voted and Stevie and Tobias were declared the winners live at the Novello Theatre!

Along with watching the cast perform some songs from the show, we had the chance to chat with Stevie and Tobias about what it has been like taking on the roles of Sophie and Sky after winning the Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream competition. 

How does it feel to be getting ready to perform in Mamma Mia! on stage?

Stevie: It's so exciting! It's been very intense, it’s been a lot, but I've had so much fun every single day.

Tobias: Yeah, it's crazy! It's so much fun. Everyone is so lovely. It's so much fun to do the show, so it's just a blast being here and in the environment. So I'm very excited to get started and just enjoy the next eight months!

What was it like being on screen for the auditions?

Stevie: It was a very strange process because it was public. But I think one of the biggest benefits of that was that the people coming to watch the show are the people that picked us to be the roles, which is a really nice feeling. They're the ones that are going to be in the audience every night!

Tobias: I think the stage aspect is so different to the screen aspect, but that's the joy of this adventure we've been on. You've had a taste of both worlds, which is lovely. And we trained in theatre, so it's nice to be back here, have our feet on the ground, feel confident in what we're doing and then just have a good time doing it. So it's been a blast!

Were you fans of Mamma Mia! before all of this? 

Tobias: Obviously!

Stevie: Obviously! I grew up watching the film pretty consistently - I would watch it a good few times a year, maybe a few times a month. [Laughs] Because living in Scotland, you don't have the same access to going to theatre shows, and the West End's not very close. So musical movies were my way of being a part of musical theatre. 

Tobias: Me too, actually! What was the first one you saw? Mine was On the Town - I remember it vividly!

Stevie: You know what? I think it might’ve been Mamma Mia!

Tobias: [Gasps] Full circle!

How would you describe Mamma Mia! in one word?

Tobias: Joyful.

Stevie: Exciting!

Mamma Mia! is currently booking to 28 September 2024 at the Novello Theatre.