Few musicals hold the cultural weight of Grease. Built on instantly recognisable songs and immortalised by the original film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, it remains a defining title for performers around the world. For several Emil Dale Academy graduates, that experience is now unfolding on international stages.
Leading the 2026 European Tour is BA graduate Ellie Stevens, who takes on the role of Sandy Dumbrowski. As the show’s female lead, Ellie’s casting places her at the centre of one of musical theatre’s most enduring productions and marks a significant step in her professional career.
She is joined on the tour by fellow BA graduates Owen Bagnall, appearing in the ensemble and covering Sonny, and Benjamin Kempton, who joins the company as ensemble while covering Roger, Teen Angel and Johnny Casino.
Also returning to Grease on the European Tour is Ava May Walters, a Sixth Form graduate, who will play Rizzo. Ava previously made her professional debut in the role at Dubai Opera in 2025 and now reprises it following a successful international run.
That Dubai production also featured Emil Dale graduate Elliott Baker-Costello as Doody. Since then, Elliott has gone on to join the international tour of Matilda the Musical, continuing a career that has already included major productions such as Mamma Mia!.
Grease has long been part of the Emil Dale story. BA graduates Jessie Odeleye and Megan Lea previously toured Germany, Austria and Switzerland in Grease Das Hit Musical, covering key female tracks including Rizzo, Marty, Frenchy and Miss Lynch. Sixth Form alumna Hope Dawe made her professional debut as Sandy in the UK and Ireland Tour, stepping straight into one of musical theatre’s most recognisable leading roles.
As Emil Dale graduates continue to work across international productions, the show also returns to the Academy’s own stage. Grease the Musical is the upcoming Sixth Form production at The Factory Playhouse Theatre, with casting currently in its final stages. Tickets are now on sale, offering audiences the chance to see the next generation step into these iconic roles at the very start of their training.
