Secret Cinema is back, only with something a little different. This time, they are making Immersive Theatre with a twist in Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical, where visitors get to experience the infamous musical as you have never seen it before.

Matt Costain, the director of the piece, stated that the vision this time was to create something in which guests not only got to see the movie, but actually feel like they are part of the experience! In other words, you physically step into Rydell High, eat at the diner, interact with the characters that pop up around you, experience the songs and dances in real time, and much more. Everyone can choose how much participation they wish to do, and there is no pressure to do anything they are uncomfortable with. You can create your own adventure as part of the experience, which also includes being able to visit different parts of the building in Battersea Park where the event takes place from the 1st August, before then going back to enjoy a favourite song such as Greased Lightning. There is something for everyone involved.

Joining Costain on the creative team is Secret Cinema Lead Producer & TodayTix Group President and Co-Founder Merritt Baer, choreographer Jenn Weber (& Juliet), and Designer Tom Rogers, who revealed artist impressions of the impressive set to come as part of the experience.

I was lucky enough to interview Lucy, who plays Rizzo as part of the show. Here is what she had to say about her journey as an actress and playing Rizzo:

Sascha: I’m here with the wonderful Lucy, who is playing Rizzo in the immersive Grease experience. Lucy, thank you so much for joining me today.
Lucy: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.

Sascha: Lucy, tell us a little bit about your journey as an actress. What made you get into it? What are your influences?
Lucy: I started about four years old when I grew up in the Isle of Man, which has got amazing Amdram facilities and a gorgeous, gorgeous, beautiful, beautiful theatre. And there’s a lot of talent from the Isle of Man who are in the industry. I’d say the most notable is Sandbox, for example. And so from there, you’re used to being in sort of large-scale productions with, you know, great sets, and they rehearse as if they’re, you know, a show.

And so from there, at 18, I was very fortunate to get into Mountview to do an acting course. I have now been in the industry for many years and have been able to work on some amazing projects at all levels.

I played Judy Garland on and off for four years. I went to the Arts Theatre. And I have done everything from, like, fringe shows. I’ve worked on TV. I’ve worked on film. So it’s been very broad, and this industry still excites me. There’s still so much left to do.

Sascha: And of course, your most recent role is Rizzo in Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical. I particularly wanted to speak to you because Rizzo is my favourite character. I understand she is also yours. Why is she your favourite?
Lucy: Well, because again, six years old was one of the first times I saw Grease, and I’ve been manifesting this part since then. And I remember I sat out and I wrote all the lines of my favourite scenes that Rizzo was in and I brought them to school, so inappropriate, but I brought them to school and we played Grease in in the playground and so my first time playing Rizzo was six years old and so I’ve been manifesting this for many years.

But basically, I think what draws people and what draws me to the character is that because she embraces a hundred percent of herself, and I think that’s what carries over is that she appreciates that she’s good, that she’s bad and she’s definitely not ugly, she is beautiful as hell.

So she embraces all of it, and I think that we’re drawn to that because we, I know me personally, I’m like if I play enough of those characters and I see enough of those characters that maybe I’ll start doing the same.

But I think that’s what we love, I think that’s what draws us to that part.

Sascha: And of course, she’s got such an emotional journey within Grease. It’s one of the most controversial characters in musical theatre because she’s the bad girl, she undergoes a pregnancy scare, she speaks her mind, and she’s very brutally honest at times. But for you, how do you get into a mindset like Rizzo?
Lucy: I think if Rizzo was a rock and roll artist, music’s very, very powerful, I think for the characters. And for her because that’s how she expresses her herself especially ‘There Are Worse Things I Could Do’, where her real vulnerability shows up, and I think she’s not ‘everyone loves her’ even though she’s sometimes not very kind because she shows where the pain comes from and she shows where it comes from. She doesn’t hide that, you know, and she’s dealing with adult things.

That’s the other thing, you know. She’s not just a teenager, she’s got a very grown-up relationship. She’s seen with very grown-up issues, whereas you know some of the other characters maybe are dealing with school issues and things, and I think that music’s very powerful. And watching the films of those times and watching the actresses at the time, they were all portrayed as kind of like tortured souls, but they were actually incredibly strong. They were all portrayed as like, ‘oh you know, that’s just another Marilyn Monroe, she’s just a ditzy’, but she wasn’t. She was incredibly astute and knew her own power, and that’s what I try to bring to Rizzo. She knows their own power and she’s damn well gonna use it!

Sascha: I’m sure you’re gonna use it and smash it in the immersive experience. If you were to sum up Rizzo in three words, what would you use?

Lucy: Strong, graceful and funny.

By Sascha Cooper

Get ready to rub shoulders with Danny, Sandy, the T-Birds and Pink Ladies at Secret Cinema’s Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical. The ever-innovative team returns to London with a brand-new format, to bring the beloved movie musical from Paramount Pictures to life as never before. Presented with TodayTix, the doors to Rydell High will open for a strictly limited term of just six weeks from Friday 1 August to Sunday 7 September 2025 at Evolution London, in Battersea Park.

Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical Tickets

Each performance of Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical will be a two-and-a-half-hour spectacular which blurs the line between screen and reality, and for the very first time, the entire film is brought to life all around you with actors and immersive elements seamlessly blending with the on-screen action. Step into the ultimate director’s cut and live at the very heart of Grease as screens play the fan-favourite film whilst a 30-strong cast and live band bring to life all of the songs from the film’s hit soundtrack including ‘You’re The One That I Want’, ‘Beauty School Dropout’, ‘Greased Lightnin’, ‘Look At Me I’m Sandra Dee’, ‘Summer Nights’, and ‘We Go Together,’ fusing the film and its iconic moments with a modern live action experience.