Grease

Grease is often mostly remembered by younger audiences for the 1978 film version. However, the film was based on the hit Broadway show. The musical was first performed in Chicago in 1971. It was so successful that it was moved to an off Broadway Theatre shortly after and within a year was performed on Broadway itself. The theatre location changed frequently to attempt to fill the demand for seats to see the hit musical. Grease came to the UK in 1973 as it opened in the West End with Richard Gere playing the lead role of the rebellious Danny.

The show has been massively popular ever since and has become one of Broadway’s and the West Ends longest running shows. Grease is currently playing in the West Ends Piccadilly Theatre where audiences continue to be thrilled by the music and dancing of the show. The musical tells the story of high school students in 1959 within the America. This was a key time in American culture as pop culture veered towards Rock and Roll and sexual rebellion.

The story told within Grease approaches this and as such serious issues of gang violence and pregnancy are dealt with within the musical. The musical accurately displays the youth culture that was developing within this period and the songs and dances that were developing making the musical a fast paced and entertaining show. .