Interview: Lucy Penrose on reprising role of Rizzo in GREASE: THE IMMERSIVE MOVIE MUSICAL
Secret Cinema’s Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical returns to Evolution London in Battersea Park for a strictly limited run this summer. During rehearsals, we caught up with actor Lucy Penrose who reprises her role as Rizzo after the sell-out run in 2025.
You're returning to Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical for a second year. What was your highlight from last summer?
It's almost impossible to pick one because every day something ridiculous, funny or genuinely moving happened. If I had to choose, it would actually be watching people forget they were watching a show. You'd see adults who arrived saying, "I'm just going to stand at the back and watch," and an hour later they're in the middle of the dance floor, joining the choir, gossiping with the students and completely buying into the world. As actors, that's the biggest compliment you can get. It means for a few hours people forgot about the outside world and became part of ours. Oh and that time that someone proposed during the show!
Why do you think audiences enjoyed the show so much last year?
I think it's because it gives people permission to play. As adults we don't get many opportunities to be completely silly without feeling self conscious, and this show invites you to do exactly that. You can sing, dance, laugh, chat to the characters and make your own story inside one that people already know and love. I also think there's something really comforting about Grease. Whether you first watched it as a child or discovered it later, it's full of nostalgia. We've simply opened the doors and invited everyone inside.
How does the rehearsal process compare to that of a more traditional musical?
It's completely different. Of course we rehearse the songs, choreography and scenes like any other musical, but that's really just the beginning. We also spend a huge amount of time building the world between the scripted moments. Also the clever use of camera work (shout out to Ted the Lense) we are also rehearsing camera angles/movement like on a film set, and 360 degrees movement, light and sound like a stadium concert. As a group of actors, who are breathtakingly talented by the way, we have fully rounded characters who have their own stories and adventures, so we are also developing those relationships with each other. Every skill set of a performer is utilised in this show. It means you're not just learning a script, you're building an entire life for your character, which is one of my favourite parts of the process.
What was your first encounter with Grease?
Like a lot of people, it was one of those films that always seemed to be on television. I remember watching it when I was far too young to understand half of what was actually going on, but absolutely loving the music and I played Grease in the playground at school, bet you can guess who I played. As I've gotten older, I've found myself appreciating completely different parts of it. The songs are iconic, of course, but it's the characters that keep bringing me back. They're flawed, funny, messy and surprisingly human.
What other movie musical would you like to see reinterpreted in this immersive style?
I think Little Shop of Horrors would be brilliant. Think of the set! Imagine wandering into Mushnik's Flower Shop, hearing Audrey II muttering from the corner before you've even seen it, bumping into Seymour while he's trying to keep everything under control, or ending up on Skid Row as the whole neighbourhood comes to life around you. It's already such a wonderfully weird, theatrical world. Although ask me tomorrow and I'll probably give you a completely different answer.
What are some of your future aspirations for your theatrical career?
Sounds cliche, but I just want to keep telling good stories with good people. I was very lucky that early in my career, I was given the amazing opportunity to tick off my lifetime bucket list of being a lead role in the West End in a part I originated, in the fabulous show Judy! So now it’s a bit of a free for all. Although I do miss Judy Garland, I think I would like to spend more time with her. But in general I'd love to keep playing complex, witty, women who make me think differently about the world, whether that's in comedy, drama or musicals. I also really enjoy creating work and helping build worlds like we do in Grease, so I'd love to continue developing projects from the creative side as well as performing in them. If I can keep making audiences laugh, occasionally cry, and forget about real life for a couple of hours, I'll feel extremely lucky.
Why should people come and see (or see again!) Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical this summer?
Because even if you came last year, you haven't seen this version. The cast has changed, the world keeps evolving, and because it's immersive, every audience helps create the experience. No two performances are ever the same. Let alone two different years. If you've never been, prepare to step into one of the most iconic films ever made. If you have been before, come back and take a different path. Follow different characters, discover conversations you missed the first time and let yourself play. Don’t know what to do or worried you won’t fit in, remember you can always come and find me, I’m not easy to miss you will hear my bark from a mile away.