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Review: Abba Voyage at Abba Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

I had a dream.

It was more than 40 years ago and Abba: The Movie is to blame.

Bjorn, Agnetha, Anni-Frid and Benny in Abbatar form. Pictures: Johan Persson/Abba Voyage
Bjorn, Agnetha, Anni-Frid and Benny in Abbatar form. Pictures: Johan Persson/Abba Voyage

Like the hapless lead character trying to secure his moment with the Swedish supergroup, I have always believed that I would one day get to see Abba in the flesh, and I finally did...well, the next best thing.

More than four decades after their last tour, the flare-flapping foursome Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Falstog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were back together on stage - albeit in eerily-realistic computer generated form.

After infamously gaining nil point from the UK for their anthemic Eurovision song Waterloo in 1974, it's good to know there are no hard feelings with the band choosing London as the ideal setting for such a 'comeback'.

Hit after platform-stomping hit swirl around the purpose-built Abba Arena, a 3,000 capacity venue in an otherwise nondescript corner of Stratford's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The 95-minute 'concert experience' totally immerses you in the band's colossal back catalogue of hits, transporting you back to their hypnotic heyday without the ravages of time getting in the way.

Abba Voyage. Pictures: Johan Persson/Abba Voyage
Abba Voyage. Pictures: Johan Persson/Abba Voyage

It is a genius move which will help satisfy the unabating demand for Abba and keep their sequin-covered spirit alive for generations to come.

Tickets are also affordable, starting from as little as £21, unlike the cavernous concert halls which seem to command ridiculously high entry fees for you to squint at a speck on stage.

Not so at the intimate-by-comparison Abba Arena, which only adds to the euphoric atmosphere as 'the band' blasts out tunes from its hit-packed career such as SOS, Mamma Mia, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight), Waterloo, Dancing Queen and Voulez-Vous.

'To be or not to be, that is no longer the question', quips pianist Benny and I suspect he's right.

This avatar approach provides the template for bands or singers who no longer wish to tour but whose popularity hasn't piqued.

It's mesmerising, memorable and momentous.

The future of concerts has been born, but just like Abba itself, it'll be a tough virtual reality act to follow.

For tickets, visit abbavoyage.com

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