Following a sold-out run in 2025, Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical returns to Evolution London in Battersea Park this summer. Audiences will once again be invited to step directly into the world of the 1978 cinema classic, exploring iconic settings like the Frosty Palace, the Autoshop, and the Carnival.
At the heart of the experience is Stephanie Costi, who reprises her role as Sandy. We caught up with Stephanie to discuss the unique challenges of immersive performance, keeping the spirit of such an iconic character alive, and what she hopes fans take away from their trip to the 1950s.
Having played Sandy in the sold-out 2025 run, how does it feel to return to this iconic character, and are you approaching her any differently for summer 2026?
I’m so excited to be back and proud to be part of something that offers such a wonderful form of escape. It’s definitely a crowd-pleaser, and to be returning after a sold-out run is just a blessing! Coming back to Sandy this summer with a mostly new cast is so lovely; finding fresh discoveries and relationships within the world is key. With new characters come different areas in the show to play and interact, and that’s what keeps the show alive and fresh!
In an immersive show, you aren’t just performing to an audience—you are living among them. How do you research and prepare for unexpected, real-time fan interactions while staying strictly in character as Sandy?
For Sandy, I keep it simple. You have to know her truth so well that any curveball just becomes part of the scene. I anchor into her posture, her voice, her warmth, and let that guide every reaction, whether it’s someone trying to trip you up on your character or a huge fan. I prep a few go-to in-character responses, but mostly I trust that if I’m fully living as Sandy, I can handle anything without breaking.
Audiences get to explore settings like the Frosty Palace and the Autoshop. From an actor’s perspective, how does performing in a fully 3D, interactive world change your energy compared to a traditional theatre stage?
It’s completely different in the best way. On a traditional stage, there’s a fourth wall between the audience. In an immersive space, they’re part of the world. They’re in it with me, so every glance, every whisper, every milkshake I drink cannot feel performed. You have to be more present because they’re right there; I can smell their perfume, hear their gasps. It keeps me focused and way more connected. There’s no “fourth wall” to hide behind, so my energy has to be genuine, not just projected.
From “Summer Nights” to “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” Sandy has some of the most famous songs in cinema history. How do you balance matching the audience’s 1978 movie nostalgia with putting your own fresh vocal stamp on the role?
I always start with what they came for—those songs and iconic moments. But I’m also not trying to be Olivia. She’s untouchable, and her Sandy is hers. Mine has to come from me. So when I sing “Hopelessly Devoted,” I’m not covering a song; it’s like it’s the first time I’ve admitted it. The nostalgia does the heavy lifting, I just have to be real on top of it. If I stay present and honest, they get the warmth of what they remember and the surprise of something new, and honestly, that’s the magic.
Summer 2026 includes even more “Roam and Return” seating, meaning fans will be moving around you constantly. What is the biggest challenge of keeping the momentum of the show going with so much crowd movement?
One of the biggest challenges in such a large crowd is quite literally the traffic getting from place to place. The movie is playing the whole time, so it all has to line up immaculately. Sometimes you don’t have time to stop and chat to audience members before your next cue on the other side of the whole space. But with more people come more beautiful interactions!
This show is a massive, two-hour-plus spectacle with live actors, bands, and massive movie screens. What do you hope audiences ultimately feel when they step out of Battersea Park after completely immersing themselves in the world of Grease?
Just pure joy, honestly. I want them to walk out grinning and maybe humming a song without realizing it. Life’s heavy enough; this show is two hours of pure, silly, heart-bursting escape. I hope they feel like they just stepped into a sunnier world, even for a little while. And if they leave holding hands a little tighter, or texting someone they love to say “let’s do that again,” then we’ve done our job. Nostalgia with a hug, basically.
Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical runs at Evolution London, Battersea Park from 22 July to 13 September 2026.
