CAN you believe that it’s been 40 years since John Travolta and Olivia Newton John first graced the silver screen with Grease being released in cinemas worldwide and creating one of the most successful screen musicals of all time?

To celebrate this anniversary Upstagers are bringing the story of The T-Birds and Pink Ladies and the teenagers from Rydell High School to The King’s Hall from July 11 to 14 in a spectacular show that is sure to bring Summer Lovin’ to Ilkley.

After the sell-out success of last year’s summer show, Starlight Express, Upstagers are going to take you back to America in 1959 where the cars are hot and the kids are cool and the tunes are always rocking. The senior class of Rydell High are on rare form with the too-cool-for-school T-Birds acting tough and the gum-snapping Pink Ladies at their sassy best. The leader of the T-Birds, Danny Zucco is back at school after a secret summer romance with the demure new girl in town, Sandy Dumbrowski.

But back at school peer pressure and cliques make their love a bit more complicated. Can Danny retain his cool dude status and still get to make Sandy his girl? It is a story that is a homage to the idealism of 1950’s America and even now a tremendously relevant satire of teenager’s desire to be provocative and rebellious.

Why not join the gang as they sing and dance around Danny and Sandy’s romance with such classic hits as Grease Is The Word, Summer Night, We Go Together, Sandy, Hopelessly Devoted to You, You’re The One That I Want and many more. The hits just keep coming in a soundtrack that recalls the music that defined a generation.

Director and choreographer of the show, Paul Nowland, said: “It really is a classic story that everyone knows and loves and deals with themes that everyone can relate to. The stage musical was first performed six years before the film and started life as a noisy, hard hitting and quite vulgar show. It was toned down for it’s transfer to Broadway where it became and huge success and the longest running show of it’s time and of course was made in to the film and had massively successful runs in The West End and on tour.

“With our production we are aiming to give audiences the Grease that they know and love, but with a hint of the grit of the original show. The cast have been working immensely hard on their characterisation which we believe will add real depth to the performances. I’d urge people to come along and support our local talent. You’ll have a wonderful time.”

Tickets for Grease are available now from the Upstagers website www.upstagers.org.uk/boxoffice, by calling 0333 666 3366 or by calling the local box office on 01943 607944 (restricted hours apply).