That’s right! Theatretrain Isle of Wight are bringing Grease The Musical to Shanklin Theatre on the 8th and 9th of July 2023. This is a must-see for anyone who loves classic musicals, as it features a cast of the very best young island performers.The Talented Theatretrain have been working hard to bring Grease to life. They have been rehearsing hard, and they are ready to put on a show that you will never forget.

What do you think of when someone says “Grease?” The movie? The most recent 2022 revival? The original Chicago production? Whichever one is first, chances are hand-jives, summer lovin’, and Sandy’s iconic “bad girl” outfit are just a few of the things that come to mind. No matter whether you saw it for the first time on stage or screen, GREASE, and it’s Pink Ladies and T-Birds (or Burger Palace Boys, as they were called in the original musical) has a special place in everyone’s hearts.

Here is a brief background of the musical, GREASE. 

• The Grease film popularised the show’s story, but the Grease musical came first! Chicago’s Kingston Mines Theatre Company staged the Grease world premiere in 1971. The production took place just minutes away from William Howard Taft School, where the Grease setting of Rydell High is based on. 
• Grease quickly attracted New York City producers, opening Off-Broadway on Valentine’s Day, 14 Feb. 1972. Months later, Grease opened on Broadway and ran for eight years. 
• The Grease British musical premiere took place in Coventry, ahead of a West End opening in 1973. To date, there have been seven Grease revivals in London: 1979, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2022, and now 2023. 

You may know the male group in Grease call themselves the T-Birds in the film. In the actual musical, they’re called the Burger Palace Boys! The male group are named the “Burger Palace Boys” after their favourite diner.

“Hopelessly Devoted To You”, “You’re the One That I Want,” and ”Grease” songs didn’t feature in the original Broadway musical! Since then, all three songs have been added to Grease productions – including ours!  

And did you know…..The Grease school is based on a real place? Rydell High is based on William Howard Taft School in Chicago, Illinois, close to where Grease creator Jim Jacobs lived. 

In 2022, the revival of Grease in the West End was seen by over 500,000 people, making it the Dominion Theatre’s most successful summer run since We Will Rock You.  

We are proud to have the license to bring that very same version to you! Our company have worked tirelessly to make this OUR BEST SHOW YET – Professional costumes, professional orchestral arrangement, professional set…… We even have the Grease Car from STRICTLY COME DANCING!!!

If you are a young person who loves to perform and would like to join our company, we would love to hear from you as we look forward to new students joining in September

Contact: iow@theatretrain.co.uk or https://theatretrain.co.uk/isle-of-wight/