Friday nights special for Mamma Mia! cast

For Dr Lindy Abramowitz Sachs and Jemma Claire Weil, performing in Mamma Mia! in Johannesburg has brought together their love of theatre, family, and Jewish identity. 

Abramowitz Sachs plays the humorous, outgoing Rosie, while Weil performs in the ensemble and understudies Sophie, a role she’s already played four times. 

“Rosie is the perfect character for me,” says Abramowitz Sachs. “She’s funny, likeable, friendly, and kind, and she draws people towards her. When you’re playing a character like that, it makes life easier and happier. Art imitates life, and she’s brought so much life into mine.” 

For Weil, being cast meant returning home after six and a half years in London. “When I auditioned for the show back in December 2025, I knew it could be the thing that brought me home to South Africa and reunited me with my family and my fiancé, who I’d been doing long distance with throughout my time in London,” she says. 

Having performed as Sophie to four sold-out audiences in Cape Town and Johannesburg, most recently on 20 October, Weil has discovered how closely the character’s life resembles her own. 

“Playing Sophie is something very close to my heart because we have so many similarities and are going through similar phases of life. Just like Sophie, I’m planning my wedding and navigating all the ups and downs that come with it. The only difference is that I won’t have three dads showing up!” 

She also identifies with Sophie’s relationship with Donna, having been raised by a single mother after losing her father to cancer when she was 16. “During Slipping Through My Fingers, I feel like I’m singing a love letter to my mom and to all the sacrifices she’s made to give me the most beautiful life. I owe so much to her.” 

Abramowitz Sachs says the audience’s response has made the experience particularly rewarding. 

“There’s a lot of laughter because Rosie is quite funny, and people respond really well to her. They’ve said such lovely things to me afterwards, and I’m grateful for everybody’s comments because it shows that hopefully I’m doing a good enough job.” 

Both women grew up surrounded by theatre. Abramowitz Sachs’s mother was a speech and drama teacher, and she first performed professionally at about nine or 10 years old. She continued performing while studying medicine and working as a doctor. 

“I always found a way to balance the two,” she says. “So many of my medical school colleagues are brilliant artists, whether they’re painters or musicians. The arts and sciences definitely go hand in hand.” 

Although Abramowitz Sachs hasn’t practised medicine professionally for several years, she has continued working in television, film, and commercials. As a mother of three, she is accustomed to balancing responsibilities, although performing away from Cape Town has meant missing her family. 

“The more I have on my plate, the more I manage to get done. There’s some magic in the air,” she says. “I play padel during the day, and the show at night is a lovely distraction. But I miss my family a lot.” 

Weil began ballet at four and singing lessons at nine. She attended King David Sandton and King David Linksfield, where she choreographed school productions and received colours for choreography in matric. 

“Growing up, my mom would take me to every show happening in Johannesburg, particularly Janice Honeyman’s pantomime at the end of each year,” she says. “I also have such fond memories of watching musical films with my late dad.” 

Both women have received considerable support from their fellow performers. “This company is phenomenal,” says Abramowitz Sachs. “There are a lot of young performers whose work ethic is superb. They bring 110% every night. I watch them from the wings, and they give that same energy to every performance and rehearsal. I’ve been blown away.” 

For Weil, that support was especially meaningful when she first stepped into her role. “Finding out I was going on as Sophie for the first time and having everyone hold my hand and say, ‘We’ve got you.’ Then there are all the dressing room chats, the laughs, and the little moments in between that make this experience so special.” 

Their Jewish identities have also become part of backstage life. 

“Even when performing on Friday nights, I make sure to create a little Shabbos for myself. Lindy and I always light Shabbat candles together and say the blessings over the challah,” says Weil. 

“In fact, the cast loves Fridays because I always bring in challah, and we all break bread together. It’s become our own little tradition, and it really does make the cast feel like a family.”