When the opening chords of Dancing Queen ring out at Melbourne’s historic National Theatre, it won’t just be ABBA nostalgia filling the room, for performers Angelo Vasilakakos and Jesse Vasiliadis in the production of Mamma Mia!
Presented by Melbourne’s new independent theatre company AG Theatre, the limited-season production opened on February 7 and continues till March 8. It brings the global phenomenon seen by more than 65 million people worldwide, to St Kilda with a cast that reflects the Mediterranean soul of its setting.
A childhood memory, centre stage
For Vasilakakos, the music of Mamma Mia! is locked into childhood memory.
“One of the strongest memories of my childhood was dancing with my thia (aunt) in the garage to Dancing Queen,” he tells Neos Kosmos.
“That music has always been such a big part of family events, so it feels really full circle getting to perform it on stage.”
Raised in Coburg in an Italian-Greek household, Angelo attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School before training at Melbourne University’s Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). He says the show’s central themes — family, heritage and belonging, resonate within the Greek-Australian experience.
“Family is everything,” he says. “There are a few other ‘wogs’ in the show and we all have so much family coming. That’s the best thing about Greek family and community, my mum is coming so many times because there’s so many different people she’s coming to see it with. They could fill up the whole auditorium!”
His parents’ reaction was immediate and entirely on brand.
“Mum absolutely loves ABBA and dad is just happy for me always,” Angelo laughs.
“All of my family are coming to see this show and have tickets to multiple nights. Mum’s bringing everyone!”
Returning to the stage and to self
For Vasiliadis, cast in as Sky, Mamma Mia! marks a powerful return to musical theatre after time away from the form.
“It meant a great deal to me,” Jesse says. “I hadn’t done a musical in quite some time before being cast in Mamma Mia!, so being given the opportunity to return to an art form I love was an incredibly liberating experience.”
Raised in Lower Plenty, where he still lives, Jesse attended Ivanhoe Grammar School’s Plenty Campus. His journey through school wasn’t always smooth, an experience that shaped both his resilience and his artistry.
“Though the circumstances were far from ideal, I would be remiss not to acknowledge how invaluable that time was in teaching me resilience,” he says. “This industry can be demanding and unforgiving. It requires perseverance, thick skin, and the ability to remind yourself that setbacks are rarely personal, something I’m still learning to navigate.”
Those challenges, he says, strengthened his drive and deepened his gratitude for the people and opportunities he has encountered along the way.
A story that mirrors the diaspora
At its heart, Mamma Mia! is a story about lineage and the search for belonging — themes that Jesse believes speak directly to the Greek-Australian story.
“Trying to understand what it meant for our grandparents to leave their motherland, without qualification or trade, not knowing the language, and the challenges they encountered,” he reflects.
“Family was all they had, and they fought incredibly hard to provide a wonderful life for themselves and our parents.”
“Mamma Mia! captures that in-between space with warmth and humour, showing that belonging doesn’t always come from having all the answers, but from embracing family, community and self-acceptance.”
The news of his casting spread rapidly, as Greek news often does.
“In typical Greek fashion, within five minutes of ending that call, all my relatives were calling and messaging to congratulate me and ask when they could see it,” Jesse says.
Performing heritage, not just representing it
Set on a sun-drenched Greek island, the production carries added weight for both performers, especially with a cast that mirrors the culture it portrays.
“It’s always a special moment to perform in a setting that connects so deeply with your ancestral heritage,” Jesse says. “It is both a privilege and an honour to share a story like this. It captures the essence of Greek culture: family, community and connection and I feel a deep responsibility to do it justice.”
A sense of connection was cemented for Vasilakakos, during his recent first trip to Greece.
“I immediately felt connected when I stepped off the plane,” he says. “Getting to relive that feeling surrounded by a set that’s so reminiscent of the Greek islands is such a pleasure.”
Set to a soundtrack of ABBA’s iconic hits, Mamma Mia! The Musical follows 20-year-old Sophie as she searches for her father’s identity ahead of her wedding, secretly inviting three men from her mother Donna’s past. The resulting chaos unfolds into a joyful celebration of love.
And for Angelo Vasilakakos and Jesse Vasiliadis , it is a rare moment when heritage, memory and artistry meet, centre stage, under the lights.
*MAMMA MIA! The Musical at The National Theatre in St Kilda February 7, 2026 until March 8th, 2026. For further information visit our Greek Guide events page.
