Judy Craymer

Born in London in 1957, Judy Craymer graduated from the Guildhall School of Music in 1977. She worked as a stage manager for the Haymarket Theatre in Leicester, the Old Vic Theatre, London, on the original production of Cats for Cameron Mackintosh and for the Really Useful Theatre Company. Then worked for Tim Rice on the musical Chess in 1982 and met Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. In 1987, Craymer moved into film and television production. Her credits include White Mischief, starring Sarah Miles, Joss Ackland and Greta Scacchi, and Neville's Island, starring Martin Clunes and Timothy Spall. In 1999, Craymer returned to her interest in ABBA, having finally convinced Björn and Benny to let her do something with their songs, she sold her flat to bankroll the creation of the musical Mamma Mia! with director Phyllida Lloyd and writer Catherine Johnson. MAMMA MIA! opened at the Prince Edward Theatre in London's West End on April 6th 1999 and has been a huge global success seen by over 6