Grease reviews – what did critics make of the new West End production?

Reviews have dropped for the West End production of Grease in London – what did the critics make of it?

The iconic musical is back in London, playing a limited season at the Dominion Theatre.

Directed by Nikolai Foster with choreography by Arlene Phillips, the production features Dan Partridge (Hairspray, MAMMA MIA!) and Olivia Moore (Waitress, Heathers) as Danny and Sandy respectively.

They’re currently joined on the cast by Peter Andre as Vince Fontaine, Jocasta Almgill as Rizzo, Paul French as Kenickie, Mary Moore as Jan, Jake Reynolds as Doody, Lizzy-Rose Esin-Kelly as Marty, Damon Gould as Sonny and Eloise Davies as Frenchie.

After the show’s opening night the first reviews are in!

Grease London reviews

The Telegraph – 4/5
“[T]he evening succeeds because it abounds with infectious, unfaked delight, above all in We Go Together, which has the amiable delinquents building a dance sequence – all flapping hands and yanking motions – in response to each other; it’s silly and sweetly affecting. Just right for the summer.” – Read the full review

WhatsOnStage – 4/5
“It may take diehard fans a while to adjust to the fact that this is not a stage spin-off of the movie, but they’ll get sensational renditions of the much loved songs, plus some less familiar, equally rousing numbers, and a terrific cast.” – Read the full review

TimeOut – 3/5
“Foster has done his best to give it an era-appropriate overhaul, but that’s balanced against the need to fill a 2,000-capacity theatre for six months with a mainstream audience. The result isn’t totally successful. But it’s not a dud either. To quote the song – it’s got style, it’s got meaning.” – Read the full review

The Stage – 3/5
“Though the humour in this production – with the exception of the loveably loud Mary Moore as Jan – could be cranked up a notch or two, this is a good night out. And for many, the euphoria of young love will be enough to have them dancing along to the final megamix.” – Read the full review

Metro – 1/5
“If you are going to revive a show that is brimful of sexism, you have to find a way to subvert it. This production just embraces it and hopes nostalgia will carry the day… The one stand-out positive is Jocasta Almgill as Rizzo (the tough girl played by Stockard Channing in the movie) who turns the lesser known number There Are Worse Things I Could Do into a hands-down showstopper. ” – Read the full review

London Evening Standard – 2/5
“Grim is the word. This version of the beloved 50s-set high school musical has a hard carapace of professionalism but underneath it’s colourless, charmless, and emptily energetic.” – Read the full review

Grease plays Dominion Theatre, London currently booking through to 29 October 2022.

Book Grease London tickets here »

The standard performance schedule is Monday-Saturday at 7:30PM with 2:30PM matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays.