ABBA-MANIA will hit Calne tomorrow when award-winning Mamma Mia director Phyllida Lloyd spends an afternoon at St Mary’s School.

Miss Lloyd, who directed Mamma Mia in the West End and then on Broadway, will meet students before giving a speech sharing her experiences of the theatre world and talking about her work directing the film.

Headteacher Dr Helen Wright said: “The girls at St Mary’s are tremendously excited. Miss Lloyd is a huge figure in the theatre and opera world and we are very honoured that she is coming back to the west country to take some time out to speak to our students.”

Another leading light in UK theatre, Sir Tim Rice, will be one of the guests at the school’s Founders’ Day on June 27.