From Drive-In to Drift Off: Grease at Battersea Park

Grease – Secret Cinema | Battersea Park until 7 September

“Tell me more, tell me… oh wait, where do I look?”

Rydell High goes immersive, but with film and actors fighting for your attention it’s more razzle than clarity.

I must be honest, I’m not the world’s biggest Grease fan – its overriding message is basically that you should not be true to yourself, take up smoking and wear tight leather pants to get your man. For me it is a tragedy and not a positive message – I freely acknowledge that I am the minority here! However, the Secret Cinema team really does a number on this 1950s tale.

You enter a cavernous converted shed at Battersea called Evolution, which has been decked out as Rydell High School after spending some time outside in a ’50s funfair. There was a massive drive-in seating area plus the ice-cream parlour where you can sit if you have purchased a suitable ticket.

Then the original 1978 Grease film started playing on a dozen giant screens. Here’s the twist: live actors, cast as Danny, Sandy, Rizzo, et al., began popping in and out of the film. When the film’s sound cut out, a spotlight would pick out a stage actor who’d sing or speak the next lines, while the movie quietly kept rolling on screen.

On paper this is a great idea. Secret Cinema has built its name by immersing audiences in cult films. The set – a cavernous space ringed by video screens, a chrome diner, drive-in stands and a dancing area – is beautifully realised.

And yet… it was a mixed bag. For the first half-hour I confess I was a bit bored. The plot (such as it is) felt fragmented – sometimes I wasn’t sure whether to watch the movie or the actors. Dialogue would cut out of the film and pop up on stage somewhere in the arena.

In our corner of the crowd, I saw people being pulled up on stage for cheerleading try-outs or dance contests – fun for them, but it was like watching someone else having fun. Even the famous songs felt a bit dislocated: it was Grease the musical sung by talented performers, not John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John on film.

Grease was originally a stage musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. In 1978 it was made into the famous movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, which modernised the look and added new songs. The upbeat rock ’n’ roll score evokes the late-’50s American high-school scene – sock hops, diners and greased-up hair.

The current production is directed by Matt Costain with huge ambition. Danny was Liam Morris, a quiff-styled charmer; Stephanie Costi made a very pert Sandy; Lucy Penrose belted out a great “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” as Rizzo. The movie plays in the background constantly, so yes, you are kind of watching the film – twice – while actors spring out singing and dancing nearby. The ensemble cast are extremely talented and work very hard, against the odds!

Whilst it may have the ambition of the Bridge’s brilliant Guys & Dolls, it ultimately falls between two stools – with a split focus, distant performers and no sense of narrative.

In the end, my verdict is: Secret Cinema’s Grease is a whirling spectacle best enjoyed with an audience that loves to throw themselves in. If you adore Grease – and secretly dream of joining the T-Birds or Pink Ladies – you’ll probably have a great night of nostalgia and singalongs.

But for the non-fan it feels like the pieces don’t fit together. It’s “neither fish nor fowl,” not a proper stage musical and not a full screening of the film as its vocals and some dialogue are provided by the live cast.

Rydell High goes immersive, but with film and actors fighting for your attention it’s more razzle than clarity – sadly it wasn’t the word for me.

For reviews, interviews, and features from London’s arts scene, follow EyeOnLondon for intelligent coverage that keeps you in the know.

Follow us on:

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest videos and updates!

We value your thoughts! Share your feedback and help us make EyeOnLondon even better!