Meet the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus Academy
Deep beneath Waterloo, in the labyrinthine tunnels of The Vaults, Ancient Grease crashes onto the stage in a riot of camp, chaos, and unapologetic smut, writes Luigia Minichiello.
This unofficial parody of Grease takes the leather-jacketed teens of Rydell High and hurls them headfirst onto Mount Olympus, transforming them into gods, mortals, and mythological misfits in a gleefully irreverent queer musical romp.
The show opens with Twisted Fate Radio, dripping in gold outfits, welcoming us all to Olympus Academy. Acting as DJs of destiny, they guide the characters through the twists and turns of fate and set the tone for what’s to come.
Ancient Grease is far less interested in nostalgia than dismantling the original. The familiar story of love, identity, and teenage rebellion is reimagined with a decidedly adult twist as the characters navigate divine drama, lust, rivalry, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek innuendo.
For me, though, there was simply too much obvious lewdness. I enjoy a nudge and a wink, but here the jokes and actions were often rammed down your throat (excuse the pun) rather than allowed to build. A bit more restraint might have made them funnier. At times, it felt as if a sexy action or quick queer gag had been dropped in just to keep attention rather than letting the comedy develop.
At two hours, the show also felt long, especially on the narrow wooden benches of The Vaults. The production tries to squeeze in most of the original songs with new, riskier lyrics, but I found myself losing interest during the first half. The rest of the audience, however, seemed to lap it up.
Thankfully, the second half picked up pace. As the cast prepared for the Olympus Orgy, the show leaned more into energetic ensemble dancing and physical comedy rather than endless innuendo. One of the best moments came when the entire audience joined in for a chaotic hand jive. The iconic songs still land well too, especially “ Greased Lightnin’!”
A standout was Aphrodite (Rizzo), delivering a strong solo with stunning vocals and serious stage presence. However, the goddess of love deserved a much better costume. What looked like a cheap pink skirt, nude bra, bruised legs, and flashes of gusset felt more like passing a pint glass around than divine glamour.
The cast threw themselves wholeheartedly into the madness, and Hera landed one of the show’s funniest moments during a brilliantly staged fight scene.
The Vaults have long championed bold, alternative theatre, and Ancient Grease fits right in – loud, chaotic, and deliberately filthy.
Written by Lady Aria Gray. Directed by Dan Wye.
Their Pay What You Can tickets also help keep theatre accessible. This isn’t Grease as you remember it; it’s ruder and outrageous, and for many in the audience, that’s clearly the point.
The Vaults, Launcelot Street, SE1 until May 31st.
Booking and full details: https://www.thevaults.london/ancient-grease
