Lightning strikes as Grease takes to the Opera House stage

Danny Bayne, winner of ITV’s ‘Grease is the Word’, will don the leather jacket of Danny Zuko, whilst Carina Gillespie will be making a welcome return to the Opera House stage as Sandy.

Carina, who made her West End debut in the role made famous by Olivia Newton John, is thrilled to be touring with the company and is eager to return to Belfast, where she first visited four years ago in the stage production ‘The Buddy Holly Story’.

“We have been touring for seven months and performed in Dublin in the summer so we are looking forward to going back over again,” said Carina.

“I was in Belfast with the Buddy Holly Story so I know the city and the audience. I am really looking forward to it; we’re really excited.”

Taking on such an iconic role would be difficult for any performer, but Carina is determined to put her own stamp on the character.

“It is such an iconic role and everyone has Olivia Newton John in their head but I want to make it my own,” she explained.

“I used to watch the film a lot as a child and I love it but I haven’t watched it since I got the role. I don’t want my performance to just be a carbon copy.”

Carina is thoroughly enjoying playing the good girl gone bad and she is hoping the local audience will love it just as much.

“It is a great part,” she said. “She’s a lovely character to play. It really keeps it interesting and I will be sad to leave it behind when the tour ends.

“It is just a great show and it has such feel good music,” Carina continued. “Everywhere we go everyone loves it. The audience appreciate we are coming to their city and there is always a lot of dancing in the aisles.”

So dust off your leather jackets, pull on your bobby-socks and take a trip to a simpler time as ‘bad boy’ Danny and ‘the girl next door’ Sandy fall in love all over again. It’s the original High School Musical, featuring all the unforgettable songs from the hit movie including You’re The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted To You, Sandy, Greased Lightnin’ and many more.

Grease opens at the Grand Opera House on Tuesday February 14 and runs until Saturday February 25.

For further information or to book tickets contact the Box Office on 9024 1919.