Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical – Secret Cinema
Last Updated on August 6, 2025
The immersive event of the summer!
3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Oh, oh, these summer nights! There are certainly worse ways to spend a delightful summer’s evening than dressing up, getting a perm, and trekking on down to Battersea for an immersive retelling of the 1980s classic musical Grease. Seen before – in a different form – at a car park in Birmingham, this particular show is an immersive ‘light’ experience that is as fun and flamboyant as candy floss.
Complete with a retro Ferris Wheel and Carousel, the production team has done a fabulous job transforming a corner of Battersea Park into a shrine for 1959. Once ushered into this joyously picturesque theme park, guests can enjoy the attractions before the experience begins – I even managed to win a cuddly toy. When the show is ready to start, the doors of Rydell High open to reveal recreations of Grease’s infamous sets, from the Frosty Palace to the drive-in. With bars on nearly every wall of the building, there is seemingly no end to the razzle-dazzle.
Although this Grease is bursting at the seams with spectacle, it is considerably less immersive than the company’s previous ventures. Unlike in past productions, where audiences are treated to an immersive sandpit, where people interact with actors and complete side quests, the immersion in this production essentially happens alongside the musical. Think being told off by an actor and sent to the principal’s office, or brought up on stage to enjoy a sleepover with Rizzo.
Technically, this show is a mammoth undertaking, and in truth, not all of it goes off without a hitch. Depending on your position in the audience, some performers are a bit harder to hear, and the film can be challenging to catch at times. Cutting between the film and the live entertainment was occasionally laggy, but these problems can be ironed out later on in the run.
That being said, the performances are incredible. Stephanie Costi makes for a wonderfully sweet Sandy, acing every note of Hopelessly Devoted. Meanwhile, Lucy Penrose’s take on Rizzo made me fall in love with the character all over again. The girls tend to outshine the boys, but everyone nailed the infectious energy. Served up in an incredibly well-choreographed package, it all felt like one big party by the end, as the production heads back out to the fairground for You’re The One That I Want.
Although Secret Cinema old timers will sorely feel the lack of more immersive interactions, what they have done here is new and really enjoyable. There is a VIP ticket that promises more immersive action, and one with a seated option (probably worth it if you’re intent on wearing Sandy’s heels), but both are more expensive than general access. Unlike the last Grease in Birmingham, the majority of the production takes place indoors, so no one has to worry about being exposed to the elements.
Needless to say, you will need to enjoy Grease to have a good time with this one. The film itself is as camp as ever, and though (slightly) problematic at times, it still leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Like with all immersive shows, you get out what you put in with Secret Cinema, and this production certainly has a lot to give.
Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical
Evolution London,
Battersea Park
Queenstown Road,
Chelsea Bridge,
London SW11 4NJ
General admission starts from £49
Dates – Friday 1 August to Sunday 7 September 2025
Tickets here.
Looking for something different? Check our review of Inter Alia, currently showing at the Lyttelton, National Theatre
