Antony Costa
27th November 2023
Photographer, Interview & Editor-in-chief: Owen James Vincent
Digital Editor: Pankhuri Bhutani
Grooming: Ruby May
Cover Design: Emily Curtis
A big thanks to the team at Mamma Mia! The Party! for looking after us.
Antony Costa is a name that everyone in the UK knows and when you think of Antony Costa you think of the amazing and talented guy from the boyband, Blue. Recently Costa has been taking a break from the pop world and picking up his microphone and dancing shoes to all the ABBA hits. He has recently joined the cast of 'Mamma Mia! The Party!' which is located at the heart of London, The O2 Arena!
Costa talks to us about what you can expect from the show, his favourite ABBA song and sharing a special moment with ABBA legend, Bjorn.
Hello Antony! It’s so nice to have you on a ReVamp Magazine cover. We’ve known each other for a few years now! So I am so grateful to have you here. How has this year been for you?
First of all, thank you for having me! It’s been a while. This year has been a good year for me. Obviously, after the pandemic, there was no work for us in the entertainment industry and behind the scenes. I just grasp anything with both hands now and doing this show is a breath of fresh air, I love it! I think this is the best show I have ever done and I will say that with glee because every night is different. The audience just makes it! We can rehearse and practice but when you have an audience in front of you, you realise that hard work is paying off. It’s nice doing gigs with the boys but it’s something I’ve done for twenty-four years. I love the theatre world and this is where I like to think I thrive to show what I can and can’t do.
You’re starring in the production of ‘Mamma Mia! The Party!’. How has your experience been so far?
The experience has been brilliant just because the audience is just different. When you’re at a Blue gig, nine times out of ten you're there to see the band but here people don’t know what to make of it. The other day I went around to all the tables during the interval and made sure I kept in character and welcomed guests etc. There was an American couple who had no idea who Blue was but they believed this was my restaurant, this was my staff and I’ve come from Greece to the O2 and built this restaurant myself. The guy was like “So how much did it cost?” and I was keeping in character thinking you don’t have a clue who I am which is wicked but it’s nice because it’s a team effort, it’s an assembled piece. Also, the staff, the bar staff, the waiters, the lighting, the actors, the sound, they are all one family and that’s what makes this experience so special.
You play the role of Nikos. Can you tell us a little bit about him?
Nikos is an overprotective Dad. This experience has a love story running through it. It’s my storyline with my wife Kate and it’s my daughter’s storyline with the guy that she loves called Adam who is Kate’s nephew. Nikos doesn’t want his daughter to leave him and is scared that she’s growing up and she’s spreading her wings but he wants to keep her for himself.
The set is incredible! It feels like we’re in Mamma Mia! What is your favourite part of the set?
The fountain! It’s the showpiece. People walk in and it’s the first thing you see when they arrive and they’re mind-blown. It does resonate with what this show is about and brings people together where people take photos. I must address that we've had people come on their own and leave with friends that they’ve met at their table. This is the great thing about this show!
If you had to pick one ABBA song to listen to for the rest of your life… which one would it be?
I’m in a Summer Night City mood today. That’s been playing in my head! Even though I don’t sing it I just love the beat as it’s funky.
You also sat and discussed with the legend Bjorn from ABBA! How was that?
Interesting and amazing because I learned so much from him that afternoon. He came to the show but I worked with him the day after because we were doing press all day and just to watch the master at work. What I like about him is that he’s interested in you and he was asking me questions about what I do in the studio with the boys and how we write music etc. I was like I should be asking you because he has written some amazing pop songs in history.
Blue did a big tour last year and released some new music. Are we going to hear more from Blue?
In April next year me and the boys are heading out to play our Greatest Hits and tell our stories from over the past 20 plus years.. and we’ve got a lot of stories!
Lastly, if you had the opportunity to ReVamp anything. What would it be and why?
I would revamp Saturday morning TV. I would bring back SMTV or CDUK because I’m not being funny I don’t want to see three different channels cooking a fish. Give the kids nowadays what we experienced growing up!
Grab your tickets to see Antony at the 'Mamma Mia! The Party!' here.