Magical musical melodies rise out of the rehearsal room where FM Theatre is putting the finishing touches to their upcoming musical Mamma Mia. With less than a week to go, the band is playing, the costumes are hanging up and the actors are rearing to go.

Among them is well-known actress Isabel Warrington, who recently returned to the stage after a hiatus, during which she focused on other aspects of her career - namely her caricaturing and her home restoration business.

Isabel is a beloved face on the local theatre scene, known for roles including Shirley Valentine in, you guessed it, Shirley Valentine, Fay in A Chorus of Disapproval, Donna in Kvetch and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. "I actually only started acting when I was 26," she says, "although I had been taking jazz classes since I was 17 and immediately knew I loved performing. Acting seemed like a natural progression after that. Like most things I've tried in life, I just had a hunch that I could do it. So, when a friend of mine asked me to take part in the play he was presenting for the MADC One Act Play Festival, I said yes. And that was to be the first of many plays."

But while Isabel - or Izzy as she is known - has consistently loved performing, she recently chose to take a two-year break. "I needed to feel passion for the stage again. In recent years I've learnt that when something starts to feel like a chore, it means it's time to take a break from it and return when the time feels right. When I heard there were auditions for Cinderella (the pantomime by MADC), I thought, 'What fun it would be to play the wicked stepmother!' I loved every minute of that show and, in the meantime, also auditioned for Mamma Mia because I knew that my energy for the stage was back."

In fact, it was around a year ago when Isabel heard auditions for the musical would be taking pace. "I was still wondering whether I would ever want to go back to the stage again when Thomas Camilleri, who is playing Sky, mentioned that there would soon be auditions for Mamma Mia. A couple of weeks later I bumped into Maxine, who is playing Sophie, and she said she could really see me as Tanya. I was still reluctant, however, when the audition notice popped up on Facebook a couple of months later I thought I'd give it a go just in case I changed my mind. And lo and behold, I got to play Tanya! I'm so glad I took their advice and kept my options open. I'm loving every bit of it."

Tanya is something of a cougar in the show, and highlights of the role include the song Does Your Mamma Know, which Isabel will sing opposite Jeremy Grech, who plays love-struck Pepper. Then later, in another brilliant scene, Isabel and Pia Zammit, who plays Rosie, sing Chiquitita and Dancing Queen to cheer up Donna -who is being played by West End actress Charlotte Gorton. "I have to say that I love all of Abba's songs, mostly because they remind me of my childhood. But I guess Does Your Mother Know is the one I'm enjoying the most because it's a bit naughty and sassy. I get to own the stage for that one."

Isabel, Pia, Charlotte, Thomas, Maxine and Jeremy join a whole host of other fantastic performers taking part, namely Antony Edridge, Ray Calleja, Edward Mercieca, Nicole Cassar and Tezara Eve Camilleri. The musical is being directed by Chris Gatt, with Kris Spiteri as musical director, Cathy Lawlor as vocal coach and Francesco Nicodeme as choreographer. Known to be the eighth longest-running musical in West End history, Mamma Mia includes Abba hits including Super Trouper, Lay All Your Love on Me, Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Take a Chance on Me, Thank You for the Music, Money, Money, Money, The Winner Takes It All, Voulez-Vous, SOS and the title track, Mamma Mia.

"This has to be the feel-good show of all time," Isabel continues. "It has the most uplifting repertoire of songs and it is a modern fairytale. So, even to those who are too embarrassed to say they like Abba, I urge you to just come and singalong. It's a brilliant cast and production crew with an amazing chemistry. I challenge anyone to watch the show and not leave on a mega high!"

'Mamma Mia' is already almost sold out, although a few tickets do remain for the 3pm show on Saturday, 14 April. Tickets are available from www.mcc.com.mt or by calling on 7944 5030.