Peter Andre starring in Grease in Manchester
The Mysterious Girl singer is taking on two characters!
Last updated 11th Oct 2021
Peter Andre is in Manchester to star as Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel in the first new production of the iconic musical Grease in 25 years.
Andre played Teen Angel in the 2019 tour of Grease, but is taking on the new role of Vince in the latest production opening at Manchester's Opera House tonight (11th October).
The pop star said: "I may even be doing a third role, namely a police officer, depending on whether or not I can get changed on time.
"The more characters the better for me.
"Each one of them has a different accent, so I get to do different dialects, and it’s good to be acting as well as singing.
"With Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel it’s very quick change but I love the energy of that."
Grease originally opened in Chicago in 1971, followed by a move to Broadway in 1972, where it received seven Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical. During the show's eight-year run, at the time, little known actors including Peter Gallagher, Patrick Swayze and John Travolta all appeared in the production, with Richard Gere understudying many roles before going on to star as Danny Zuko in the 1973 London premiere.
The 1978 film adaptation starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John is the fourth highest-grossing live action musical of all time and celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.
The new production of the legendary musical was due to tour in 2020 but had to be postponed due to COVID-19.
Peter Andre told us that starring in a musical isn't something he ever considered doing, but thinks that it's "brilliant" to be involved with the production.
The 'Mysterious Girl' singer said: "For me as a child there were two movies I watched again and again - and those were Back to the Future and Grease. What’s interesting about the theatre version is that it’s the original script, not the one we know from the movie. It’s still the same songs and still pretty much the same dialogue, but some of the songs are in different places.
"Everyone can relate to being a teenager, whether that’s from a nostalgic point of view or if you’re a teenager right now.
"I’m sure I can speak of anyone who is going back on stage after all this time in saying how exciting it’s going to be. And Grease is such a great show to put a smile on people’s faces.
"I love the crowds in Manchester. They really go for it, they’re always up for it and they know what they like. Whenever we’ve done Grease in Manchester the crowds have been incredible.
"The atmosphere is going to be, excuse the pun, electrifying. I want to make up for lost time and make sure that every single show is going to be immense fun!"
Grease is playing at Manchester Opera House from 11 – 23 October, then again at Liverpool's Empire from 15 – 20 November.