Creating something out of some scripts and music, IT’S A VERY EXCITING PROCESS’
Since the moment it rst hit the stage in 1971, Grease has been the word. The stage show, which was adapted for the silver screen in 1978, has captured audiences’ hearts around the globe — and seen many famous faces step into the characters’ shoes throughout the years, from Debbie Gibson to Richard Gere; Barry Bostwick to Shane Richie.
Grease recently opened at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, where it will run until May 4 — and the production’s associate director Kevin O’dwyer told Chic how he immediately knew“it was going to be an amazing production to be involved in.” He said,“i mean, it’s an iconic show. I think it’s an amazing, amazing show that obviously, people have grown up with and so many people know.
“And then it obviously has an amazing creative team on this production, working with Arlene Phillips, the choreographer, and Nikolai Foster, the director — it’s amazing, the team that’s behind this production.
“They’re all incredible people and so established.
“I knew it was going to be an amazing production to be involved in.
“I went to the audition and got the job — and then it all just sort of started from there.”kevin told how his own journey with the production began a few years ago — and has seen him take on a number of different roles.
He said,“i started on the show in the production as part of the ensemble, and I did two UK tours and a season in London on the West End as a performer.
“The following season in London, I became the resident director and choreographer of the show.
“And now, for this production of the tour, I’m associate director.
“It’s been quite a journey with the show.
“Obviously, I’ve changed positions and worked my way into a different role, which is great — I love the show, and I’ve loved working on it.”
And while taking that step into different areas of the production was“of course” nerve-wracking, Kevin told how it felt like a “natural step”to take.
He continued,“i think what helped was that I know the show so well, and
I’ve worked for so long with the show. I felt very comfortable with it. I think that taking that step, it kind of felt like a natural progression, I guess, with my history with the show. It was kind of just a natural step.”
Kevin opened up about what he reckons it is about the story of Grease that continues to strike a chord with audiences.
He said,“i think it’s a generation that grew up watching this lm, watching John Travolta and Olivia Newton-john in these roles.
“I think there’s so many famous scenes
Grease’s associate director Kevin O’dwyer on being a part of the ‘iconic’ show and bringing it to home soil… By Keeley Ryan
and quotes and songs from the movie that I think it sort of just lives on.
“And a lot of the themes, the characters and the things in the show are so relevant, even now.
“And I think that’s what makes it so — even when you watch the show now, in 2024, obviously it’s set in the 50s but there’s so many things that we can see sort of re ected in this time and the things that these kids or these teenagers are going through, we all went through or we’re all going through. It’s so relatable, I think.”
Kevin told how great it was to have the show returning to Dublin — and to have friends and family to have the chance to see the production.
He said,“i’ve played the show in Dublin when it was last there, and it was such an amazing feeling to be on home soil with a production that’s been touring all around the UK and Ireland.
“I think it’s so amazing. And for my friends and family to be able to come and see what I do and what I’m always busy doing, it’s so nice — and it’s such a nice feeling.”
And as for whether the cast and crew have their sights set on anything in particular in Dublin, Kevin told how the focus is on rehearsals — but“they’ll have to do the main tourist attractions, of course”.
He continued,“we’ll be quite busy when we’re there, we’ll have to do a lot of rehearsals — the show will open, and then we have to rehearse all the covers to make sure they’re ready — and so we’ll be spending a lot of time rehearsing. And then obviously, we do a lot of shows as well.
“We won’t have so much time — but I think out to the beaches, maybe the Guinness Factory and a night in Temple Bar, for sure.”
The Dubliner told how becoming a performer was something that he had wanted to do since he was a kid.
He said,“i went to stage schools in Dublin growing up, and it was always something that I enjoyed.
“As I was coming up through school. I couldn’t see myself really doing anything else to be honest.
“It was the only thing I enjoyed or had a passion for, or wanted to pursue.
“And I was very lucky that I was able to come over to the UK, study and was able to pursue it.”
As for whether he’s got his sights set on a dream role, Kevin told how at the moment his focus is on“nding shows and pieces that are exciting and I enjoy bringing to life”.
He said,“it’s pieces of theatre that
are exciting and I think for
THERE’S SO MANY FAMOUS SCENES, QUOTES AND SONGS, IT SORT OF JUST LIVES ON.”
me, it’s more the journey of getting a show up and running — it doesn’t matter what the show is, the journey is always the same and the excitement, I think, is always the same.
“Creating something out of some scripts and music, it’s a very exciting process — and I think that’s what I enjoy the most.”
And while he started out his career as a dancer and he is still performing, Kevin told how it was nice to branch out into different aspects of production.
He said,“it’s nice to then have that behind-the-scenes aspect of directing, choreographic or whatever it might be that allows you to sort of create a bit of longevity, I guess, with your career.
“As a dancer, you might have a bit more limited time with your career, depending on your body — as long as your limbs are capable, it’s all ne.
“But as you get a bit older, obviously, it’s harder to be a dancer so nding something else — and being able to
nd something else within the industry that I’m interested in that excites me — is great.”
Kevin told how one of the standout moments of his career so far was being one of the backing dancers for Ryan O’shaughnessy when he represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018.
He said,“i think doing the
Eurovision was an amazing experience.
“To be able to dance on such a huge stage, rst of all, in a huge arena — we were in Lisbon — and to be on a worldwide stage, it’s obviously a huge, huge thing.
“And then, to dance as well for Ireland and represent my country — we got to the semi, and then we got to
nd the nal — that was probably, for me, de nitely a career highlight.”
The Dubliner added that the
“whole experience”of being a part of Eurovision was unreal.
He continued,“i couldn’t even have imagined how huge and how great it would be.
“It exceeded all my expectations. We had so much fun.
“The piece was really great and it was an amazing song — the whole team that worked on it was incredible.
“I feel very, very lucky to have experienced that.”