Grease – strong vocals and choreography carry this much-loved classic musical (Grand Opera House Trust’s summer youth production until Saturday 19 July)

The Grand Opera House Trust’s summer youth production for 2025 is Grease. Right from the off, the full cast members prove they’re in good voice with Summer Nights. A total of 76 young actors, backed by 11 in the orchestra pit and a youth tech crew augmenting the backstage team race through this cut-down and lightly sanitised version of the familiar musical.

It’s 1959 and Sandy is a new Rydell High pupil who finds herself hanging out with the Pink Ladies. She soon realises that the object of her holiday romance is the class womaniser Danny Zuko. He’s much less emotionally open now he is back with his gang of lads, the Burger Palace Boys (who wear T-Bird leather jackets in a nod to the film version).

Summer production veteran Jackson Allen takes a lead role for the last time playing Danny, starring opposite the talented Meghan McSorley as ingénue Sandy. Like all the principal pairings, their voices blend well and they carry their two duets with style. Shea Fox impresses as the recurring comedy scene stealer Eugene.

Rizzo (Tess McElherron) is the most hostile of the Pink Ladies; Jan (Hannah McCann) eats her way through a lot of snacks; while Marty (Eva McColgan) is the most adventurous of the tight-knit group of girls.

The whole cast pull off Rebecca Leonard’s tight – and almost frantic – choreography of big numbers like We Go Together, working confidently as one team. Beauty School Dropout is beautifully staged as Frenchy (Sophie Wilson) is given advice by her Teen Angel. The next scene with the threat of a rumble sags, before Doody (Callum Richie) and Roger (Ronan McGoldrick) regain the show’s energy and deliver some outstanding harmonies in Rock’N’Roll Party Queen.

Throughout the musical, Tony Finnegan supplies some lovely directorial flourishes, but the abbreviated nature of this youth production means that there are big emotional jumps between some scenes that mean the show lacks the end-to-end coherence of previous productions like The Pirates of Penzance and Oliver. That said, the musical ability, rock solid accents, fluent dancing and copious costume changes make Grease a very enjoyable show to watch (and clearly a very enjoyable show to take part in given the energy from the cast).

While the tunes and story are familiar, there are elements of the musical that haven’t aged well! Having taught Danny a lesson about consent in the drive-in cinema, Sandy ultimately capitulates (another of those moments of decision in the show that has little build-up) and compromises her long-held standards to win the heart of her summer love. The guy gets the girl on his terms.

Grease finishes its short run at the Grand Opera House on Saturday 19 July. If you’re quick you’ll be able to claim one of the small number of seats available at the two remaining performances.

Photo credit: Neil Harrison

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