If you have ever seen Grease and loved it then you need to check out Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical by Secret Cinema.
Grease is one of those timeless films that every generation seems to love. The story is great, the costumes are iconic and the songs… who doesn’t love singing Hopelessly Devoted to You at the top of their lungs? Every song is a classic. So, when I heard Secret Cinema was bringing Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical back to London I was so excited to experience Grease on another level and feel fully immersed in Rydell High.
Directed by Matt Costain, as soon as you enter the venue you’re instantly transported back to 1959. You arrive at the famous funfair complete with many of the rides featured in the film from the Ferris wheel to the fun house. What makes it even more exciting is that for a few tokens you can actually go on the rides whilst watching the film on several giant screens. Once you’ve had some outdoor fun and grabbed a drink it’s time to head into Rydell High.
Now it’s quite hard to fully explain what it’s like but it’s very cool. Tom Rogers’ set design transforms the space into Rydell High with a stage at the centre of the room where the majority of the live action takes place whilst several large screens play the film. There are bars and restaurants serving all sorts of food and drinks. The seasoned fries were so good and they had some great mocktails too.
There are both seated and standing ticket options. I was lucky enough to have a seated ticket and unless you want to be right in the middle of the action and on your feet for a few hours I’d definitely recommend choosing a seat. The great thing is you still have the flexibility to get up, explore the space and then return to your seat whenever you fancy.
What I liked most about the whole experience was just how unique it felt. There was so much attention to detail throughout. From Tom Rogers’ set design to the themed restaurants every part of the experience made you feel as though you had stepped into the film, and that’s exactly what makes Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical so unique.
I also loved the costume design by Susan Kulkarni and Martina Trottman. The costumes stayed incredibly true to the film and even the ushers were dressed in authentic 1950s outfits which really added to the atmosphere. Every performer gave their all whilst acting alongside the film. Not only did they have to perform but they also had to interact with the audience, stay in character and constantly improvise. It was a really talented cast.
Whilst I loved many aspects of the experience, I will say I was expecting it to be a little more immersive, where you’re encouraged to move around different locations and discover new things. Instead, you’re mainly watching the film on screen whilst the cast perform alongside it. With so much happening all at once it can sometimes feel a little chaotic and quite easy to get distracted. In fact, I’ll probably have to watch the film again at home because I couldn’t always follow every moment with everything going on around me.
That said I can completely understand why so many people love it. If you’re looking for a unique and interactive way to experience one of the world’s most loved musicals then Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical is definitely worth checking out.
Related links
Grease the Immersive Movie Musical review (2025)
