Chatting with ABBA Sensation

January 12, 2026

ABBA Sensation are preparing to bring their high-energy, feel-good tribute show to the main stage, promising an evening packed with iconic hits, audience participation and pure escapism. Led by founder and performer Melody French, the band has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most loved ABBA tribute acts, playing to packed theatres and festivals across the UK and beyond.

For Melody, ABBA Sensation was born out of experience and instinct.

“I was already performing as Frida in other ABBA shows,” she explains. “After a while, I thought, ‘I could do this myself.’ I’d seen how it all worked, so I decided to set one up from scratch, and it just grew from there.”

What began as a small ABBA segment within a vocal trio soon evolved into something much bigger. Initially performing as a duo, Melody quickly adapted the show in response to audience demand.

“People kept asking for a four-piece,” she says. “So, I added two boys, and from there it just took off.”

 

More than costumes and choreography

Despite the glittering costumes and upbeat performances, Melody is keen to highlight the reality behind life as a tribute act.

“I think the biggest misconception is that we just turn up in our costumes and perform,” she laughs. “People don’t see the travelling, the loading in, setting up all the equipment ourselves, doing soundchecks, grabbing food when we can, and then doing it all again in reverse at the end of the night.”

With no dedicated technical crew, the band handles everything themselves, from packing costumes to checking repairs after each show.

“It’s a lot of hard graft,” Melody says. “Entertainment always looks bright and breezy on stage, but there’s a lot of work behind the scenes.”

 

A show that stays fresh

Having performed together for many years, ABBA Sensation no longer rely on weekly rehearsals. Instead, new material is carefully slotted into the show as it evolves.

“If we add a new song, I’ll send out everything, vocal guides, tracks, choreography videos,” Melody explains. “We’ll run it during soundcheck and then try it live. Because we’ve been doing this so long, it’s a lot more flexible.”

Each performance also brings something different thanks to changing venues, audiences and cast line-ups.

“Every audience reacts differently,” she says. “You might have students dancing and screaming one night, and a theatre audience sitting politely the next. But we want everyone to clap, sing, dance and let go, that’s what the show is about.”

 

Expect the unexpected

Like any live performance, things don’t always go perfectly, but Melody says the band are well prepared.

“We’ve had broken guitar strings, costume mishaps, wigs slipping,” she admits. “But nothing major. We’re lucky, and everyone knows how to handle things quickly if something does go wrong.”

Performing at this venue is something Melody particularly looks forward to.

“We’ve played here before, and the audiences are always brilliant, up dancing, getting involved, having fun. That’s what we love.”

 

Music, joy and escape

At its heart, ABBA Sensation is about joy, nostalgia and connection. Melody hopes audiences leave with one simple feeling.

“That they had a really good night,” she says. “If the audience enjoys it, we enjoy it, and everyone feeds off that energy. We want people to forget their worries for a couple of hours and just be happy.”

With dazzling costumes, faithful recreations of ABBA’s unmistakable sound, and a band that thrives on audience participation, ABBA Sensation promises a night of singing, dancing and celebration for all ages.

See ABBA Sensation at Century Theatre on Saturday 31 January 2026 at 7.30 pm. Secure your tickets now.