Review: GREASE THE IMMERSIVE MOVIE MUSICAL at Evolution London

We all know and love Grease, the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Bad boy Danny Zuko and good girl Sandy Olsson fall in love over a magical summer, but find their romance facing a roadblock when they reunite at Rydell High School for their senior year, thanks to their vastly different social circles and Danny’s attempts to juggle his tough guy image with his love for Sandy. A cheesy but compelling love story, hilarious high school shenanigans, colourful characters, and catchy songs - Grease has it all.

But how does this immersive musical adaptation measure up? For starters, it’s not a traditional musical - so if you’re looking for something like The Devil Wears Prada or Heathers the Musical, which straightforwardly adapt their source material, you might be disappointed. Instead, Grease the Immersive Movie Musical plays the film on large screens throughout the venue, with actors occasionally getting up to reenact key scenes and perform musical numbers alongside it. There's a good deal of spectacle involved, with bombastic dance numbers and a car descending from above during 'Greased Lightnin'.'

The screens are a little distracting, and I often found myself watching the movie instead of paying attention to my surroundings. Especially during moments where there's nothing happening with the show, it feels a bit like you're just attending a screening of Grease. There’s no question that the film is far superior to the show, so the choice to have it play nonstop in the background almost works to the show’s disadvantage.

The spacious venue is transformed into a replica of set locations from the film: Rydell High, Frosty’s Palace, a cleverly designed table set-up that imitates a drive-through cinema, and even a real-life fairground with rides and games. There’s bars and food stalls on every corner (along with merch stands), which means you’ll never find yourself wanting for refreshments at any given point. In terms of entertainment factor, it certainly racks up the points.

But in terms of immersiveness, it’s a mixed bag. Because of the nature of the performance and the venue layout, with tables dispersed along the space for those with seated tickets while those with standing tickets wander around - it makes for quite a chaotic experience. Actors move through the crowd, sometimes selecting audience members to join in on cheerleading routines or dance scenes, and you’re never quite sure which of the multiple stages the performers will get up on to play out a particular scene. This means there’s a lot of confused wandering around, and you’re likely to miss things if you’re not quick on your feet.

The set is undoubtedly impressive, packed with details like a beat-up, rusty car at the autoshop where Danny and the T-Birds hang out. But it also feels gimmicky in places, more like a theme park than an actual attempt to capture the nostalgic charm of the original film’s rustic, colourful 1950s setting. The interactive elements, where audience members are encouraged to join in dance circles and conga lines, feel a touch corny, but can be fun if you’ve come with the family or a big group (and if you’ve chugged down a few drinks…)

That being said, the cast is undeniably talented and charming, looking as though they’ve just stepped out of the film in their period-accurate costumes and wigs. A live band plays catchy, dance-worthy 1950s tunes from the main stage, and it is genuinely entertaining to watch the performers act out moments from the film. The highlight is undoubtedly the big climactic number in the fairground, which finishes off the show on a high note, and feels every bit as silly, fun, and heartwarming as the film's ending does.

If you’re a fan of Grease, you’ll probably be better off watching the movie instead. The show doesn’t quite do justice to the charm, humour, and feel-good nature of the original, but then again, that’s not really what it sets out to do. If you’re on the look-out for some light-hearted summer-time entertainment that just happens to have a Grease theme thrown in, then this is the show for you.

Grease the Immersive Movie Musical Tickets