As many Source readers will be aware, ABBA Voyage is the virtual concert that took the nation’s capital by storm. The show, which runs at the ABBA Arena in Stratford, features digital avatars of the Swedish quartet as they would have appeared in 1979, with these “ABBAtars” delighting audiences with a string of familiar hits alongside a pulsing light show and party atmosphere. Well, Source loves a Brighton success story and we were fortunate enough to sit down with Hannah Corcoran, saxophonist extraordinaire turned Super Trouper to chat all things ABBA, from Gold to Voyage, as well as embracing the future in order to relive the past!
Hannah originally began her musical journey as a flautist before then picking up the saxophone, the two instruments forging a nice pairing as she progressed through the local youth music groups including Brighton Youth Orchestra and Brighton Youth Big Band. “Those groups were massive staples of my teenage life – the best bit of my childhood!” Hannah tells us.
When it came to specialising for the purposes of further training it was the saxophone that won out (“It’s more fun!” she quips somewhat guiltily) but Hannah kept the flute close at hand throughout her time at the Royal Academy of Music. Graduating into a Covid-ravaged sector didn’t stop Hannah from quickly finding her feet within the music industry. It was theatre that came knocking first and Hannah looks back fondly on her time as a pit musician in various West End and UK touring musicals including Strictly Ballroom and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (which Source was fortunate enough to catch when it visited Theatre Royal Brighton in December 2021.) A stint as a self-professed “pit-gremlin” for Sheffield Crucible Theatre’s Miss Saigon in 2023 proved a career highlight – a musical renowned for its memorable saxophone solos which, Hannah admits, were “equally exciting and terrifying to play.”
All of which stood Hannah in good stead for that which grips her presently… A Voyage like none other!
For Hannah, who has worked on the show since its opening in 2022, taking the job was a no-brainer. Like many of us, she grew up with the Greatest Hits album ABBA Gold. The album, which has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, was a staple in many a household CD rack. “My parents had the album on repeat in the car. It’s really nostalgic, I associate it with driving down for beach holidays in the Summer.”
We asked Hannah what she thought it was about ABBA’s music that ensures its popularity through generation after generation. “The music is upbeat, fun and feel-good but there’s a level of emotion within the tracks which listeners can relate to also. I think you would struggle to find someone who can’t find one ABBA song that they love listening to. The songs are completely human.”
ABBA’s is some legacy, with Voyage a testament to it having opened fifty years after the band first formed. But, in these concerts, neither Agnetha or Björn nor Benny or Anni-Frid grace the stage in person. Rather it is Hannah, no longer the “pit gremlin”, and the rest of the ensemble that take centre stage alongside the avatars. “We’re onstage the entire time which is very different to being in a pit for a musical. We are the only humans onstage. Although some audiences have asked us whether we are real or not…” A bizarre notion no matter what your profession. Hannah, however, is unfazed. “I take it to mean that we’re doing a good job!”
The virtual concert clearly delivers an experience that is proving popular with concertgoers of all ages. We dared to suggest the dreaded “t” word and asked how ABBA Voyage could be considered different. “I wouldn’t use the word ‘tribute’ to describe the show.” Hannah says, quick to point out that she enjoys tribute acts herself. “Voyage is not a tribute act. It’s their vocals, it’s their image. It’s how they speak, it’s how they move. Their body language was recreated. It feels human. It’s very much the future. I’d be surprised if other artists weren’t thinking about doing the same.”
Hannah’s choice, therefore, of a future act? “I would have loved to have seen Prince. I think that would be amazing.” Source certainly agrees!
Hannah goes on to describe the show as a labour of love and is thrilled to have been able to work so closely with Benny, who spearheaded the project, as well as the other members of the band. “Sometimes it’s hard to remember that they are not there on stage with you. Benny has been very involved in our auditions, the rehearsals and the creation of the show itself alongside the other band members who all come to watch. It’s a testament to the show that they want to be there for it, that they want to be involved.”
And is it surreal being onstage, to all intents and purposes, with ABBA? “It’s nerve-wracking when you’re staring out at three thousand people. It’s quite overwhelming. But it’s also the best thing about the job. You get to really interact with the audience who are only a metre or two away. You can see all the emotions running through their faces. My favourite part of the show is always the beginning. When “ABBA” appear for the first time there are always people on the front row in tears or with their jaws on the floor. It’s such a privilege to see firsthand.”
Making sure to keep spoilers to a minimum, we asked about the show’s setlist. “I’d say it fits the overall theme of the show which is to surprise you. Obviously there are the absolute bangers but it’s an eclectic mix of tracks throughout the years, from albums right across their career. It’s a nice overview. And above all, it feels futuristic and exciting. It’s a fantastic project!”
And with that we have nothing more to add other than thank you for the music, Hannah, and ensuring that, as part of ABBA Voyage, these songs continue to live on in people’s hearts, celebrated and commemorated, now fifty years on.
ABBA Voyage plays at ABBA Arena in Stratford, London and is booking until May 2025
For tickets and more information click here
