Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical

Grease, comes to London in a reimagined immersive movie musical experience. Audiences become part of the action in Rydell High in 1950s America.

Direction by Matt Costain is clear and consistent—everything feels intentional, and some moments are genuinely clever. Jennifer Weber’s choreography sparkles with energy most of the time, though occasionally it slows down just enough that you might find yourself wishing for a fast-forward button.

Tom Rogers’ design is a standout, cleverly transporting us across multiple locations inside one main building. The outside fairground adds a nice touch too—though word of warning: don’t waste your money on tokens unless you enjoy bonding with strangers in long queues. On the bright side, with the sheer number of screens, you never feel like you’re missing any action.

Ian William Galloway’s video design is a treat, especially the playful blend of black-and-white and color. I loved how you could catch glimpses of the original film alongside live performers, with cameras disguised as vintage props (and one modern roamer that kept things dynamic).

Howard Hudson’s lighting is simple but effective. While most of the show basks in a warm glow, there are a few moments of intensity that pop—plus, the twinkling stars on the ceiling during a certain number was a surprisingly magical touch.

Gareth Fry’s sound design was a bit mixed for me. The outdoor announcements were tricky to hear (not easy to balance in an open space, I know), but inside the audio landed beautifully—loud enough to fill the room without blowing your hair back, and impressively seamless between movie clips and live performances.

Costumes by Susan Kulkarni and Martina Trottman were a total delight. Think vibrant dresses straight out of the film, perfectly paired with those iconic T-Bird leather jackets. With a cast of 30, each character still managed to feel distinct, which is no small feat.

Farida Ghedwar and Jessie Deol’s wigs, hair, and makeup nailed the brief—period accurate, playful, and polished without looking overdone. The kind of design where you don’t notice it’s there, which is the whole point when actors are right up in the audience’s space.

As for performances, Stephanie Costi gives us a sweet and endearing Sandy, while Liam Buckland (Kenickie) and Lucy Penrose (Rizzo) bring plenty of charm and undeniable chemistry. Liam Morris (Danny) makes the role his own, tweaking a few songs just enough to feel fresh while still honoring Travolta. Imogen Kingsley-Smith (Patty) and Jacob Stebbings (Eugene) have fantastic comic chemistry—but honestly, Jacob absolutely stole the show. Every time he appeared, the crowd lit up. His Eugene is adorably geeky, ridiculously funny, and the dance floor drag moment had the audience in stitches.

Overall, Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical is cleverly staged and often dazzling. The direction is sharp, the design makes great use of the space, and the video work brings something fresh while nodding to the original film. Lighting and sound have their highs and lows, but when they click, the atmosphere soars. Costumes, wigs, and makeup are vibrant, detailed, and period-perfect, giving the cast of 30 real personality. But Eugene steals the show with heart and humor. It’s a fun, immersive night with plenty to enjoy, even if pacing drags in spots and those fairground queues test your patience. If you’re a Grease fan, you will enjoy it—but is it worth the money it charges?

It is currently playing at Evolution London until the 7th September. 🎟️ Tickets available at: https://greasetheimmersivemoviemusical.com/