THEY say life imitates art and that has certainly been the case for Vikki Holland-Bowyer.

For the 43-year-old takes the part of Frida in Abba Reunion and is the real-life partner of the Benny in the show (Greg Stevenson).

It mirrors one of the two relationships that made up the chart-topping phenomenon in the 70s and 80s – but with one crucial difference.

“When I get off stage I’ve finished with Frida and I’m me,” says Vikki, who brings her show to The Grand at Clitheroe on Saturday.

“It may seem a strange job to some people but I’ve been doing Frida for 15 years – that’s longer than the original was in Abba – and I was Agnetha before that in another tribute band!”

Vikki, of Tamworth, Staffs, first became Frida for the Abba Mania show when she was told her voice more closely resembled that of the Scandinavian redhead.

On came the wig but she eventually dyed her hair so she could get more into the part.

“Wigs don’t move like real hair,” she explained.

“I wanted us to be as authentic as possible to give fans a real taste of the real Abba.

“So we change costumes, do the music, the dances, everything.

“We study old videos and films of the band so we can get it as close to the real thing as possible”

Abba Reunion was formed nine years ago and Vikki’s boyfriend was recruited to the band, which performs as a six-piece with bass and drums, at the same time.

Vikki added: “I suggested that he became Benny.

“He’s a fantastic pianist and he was fully behind my idea to make it authentic.

“We’re actors as well as musicians so we all have to make sure we’re doing our parts as best we can.”

In addition to Abba Reunion, which performs between 70 and 150 shows each year, Vikki is also part of the 80s Mania Theatre Show, a tribute to 25 different acts of that decade, and School Reunion, which performs at corporate events.

But what happens when Vikki is too old to play Frida?

“There will be botox soon and then I reckon I’ve another five years before putting someone else in,” she said.

“Our Agnetha is ten years younger than me and Greg is 47 but he can hide his age with the beard, and Bjorn is 31.”

“The show will go on, though, as the music is timeless and will never stop.

“Authenticity and energy is key and we don’t just go through the motions.

“You have to give it your best for yourself and the people who turn out to see you.”

Abba formed in Stockholm in 1972, and have sold over 380 million albums and singles worldwide, which makes them one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and the second best-selling music group of all time. ABBA was also the first group to come from a non-English-speaking country that enjoyed consistent success in the charts of English-speaking countries, including the UK, Ireland, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The group also enjoyed significant success in Latin American markets, and recorded a collection of their hit songs in Spanish.