The stars of Summer Youth Projects’ Grease tell MARION SAUVEBOIS what they love about the classic

“BOOGEDY shoobee doowop shebop" bellows the ensemble in unison from the bowel of the Wyvern’s amphitheatre. One last chorus of “chang chang changitty chang shoobop” and it’s curtain down for a flying lunch break before the Summer Youth Project’s hop to it again – some for a steep seven-hour rehearsal.

Exhilarated after a successful trial run of We Go Together, Henry Firth, Phoebe Moss and Megan Hughes aka Grease’s Danny, Sandy and Rizzo merrily bounce out of the auditorium.

Like pros they soon collect themselves ready to spill the beans on their parts, the weeks spent studiously running their lines in the confines in their bedroom (in Megan’s case roping in her indulgent mother to be Kenickie et al. to her Rizzo. “She could probably replace me on stage,” she chuckles), the rush of jitters on day one of rehearsals and the fine balance between breathing new life and remaining faithful to beloved characters.

“I was quite nervous when I came in yesterday,” confides 17-year-old Megan from Chippenham on the second day of rehearsals. “But it’s a well-known musical and I was at ease with the songs and scenes.”

“I was probably eight when I first saw it; it’s one of those films you have in the cupboard,” agrees Henry, from Old Town.

While the trio made ample use of their well-worn copies of the movie starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta as their main source material, the recent US TV adaptation, Grease Live!, went some way to shed a modern light on the musical for Phoebe.

Based on the original musical, not the iconic film, with the slight tweaks, set list and chronological changes it entails, the SYP’s Grease follows teenagers Sandy and Danny, who, after a brief summer romance, are unexpectedly reunited when she transfers to his school, Rydell High. There, Sandy must contend with cynical Rizzo, the Pink Ladies, and Danny’s own laddish aloofness and macho façade to win his heart again.

Tackling such a well-loved story was a privilege, Phoebe enthuses; Megan and Henry nod energetically on either side of her.

“I have played quite fierce and mean roles,” laughs Phoebe, 17, who was overbearing mother and bigoted producer Velma in last year’s sell-out production of Hairspray.

“It’s quite an honour to be a little bit more shy and sweet. Naturally I’m quite loud so it definitely different but there’s a lot more singing in this one which I’m really happy about. And there’s a love story behind it which I’ve never done before,” she says blushing from ear to ear. “But it’s ok,” she adds firmly, pondering the prospect of fawning over her co-star as Sandy until they walk off into the sunset. “I get on quite well with Henry,” she smiles, throwing the 17-year-old co-star an amused glance.

“It’s our interpretation,” points out Megan, who studies performing arts at Trowbridge College. “We’ve been improvising scenes, we’re talking in our own character’s voice to find out more. It’s giving us a good understanding of our character. Rizzo is sassy and loud but she is also has a really vulnerable side to her.”

“You don’t want to copy too much,” explains Henry, who will soon embark on his final year at performing arts school Tring. "It’s easy to come across fake and look like you’re going through the motions.” Though a touch of Travolta swagger never hurt, he smiles. “I generally tried to make him my own but I’ve watched the film a few times and I’ve tried to do Travolta’s strut. And I’ve been trying to grow my hair since I found out I had the part.”

But while they had some margin to play with to inject their own personality and oomph into the roles, on the musical front they had to defer to the original songs and quite literally, hit the right note.

“I’ve had to train my voice to go higher,” says Phoebe, a pupil at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. “I used to be an alto singer and a lot of Sandy’s songs are quite soprano. “It’s pushing you outside your comfort zone; the challenges help us to develop as performers.”

Aping Travolta’s high-pitched timbre is also proving quite the curveball for Henry, who was cast as Danny after his mother sneakily signed him up to audition.

“I’m a baritone and most if the songs go past G,” he volunteers. “I’m sure I’ll be able to get there but it will be a challenge for me.”

The SYP is directed and produced by a professional team, and each year attracts swathes of would-be performers or technicians keen to get a feel for the demands, challenges and rewards of putting together a top-notch show. This new production, which will premiere on Thursday 25, promises to be another sell-out, with nearly all tickets already snapped up except for Friday’s matinee.

“I’m a cheeky little chappie now and again and check ticket sales - last time I went on the website, nearly everything was sold out,” beams Henry.

With just ten days to perfect every routine, find their mark in a whopping 180-strong cast, master those pesky lyrics and nail Grease’s familiar melodies, time is of the essence. Most professional productions of this scale would usually enjoy a leisurely three-week rehearsal run to fine-tune every last detail and put their stamp on such a behemoth as Grease. A day and half into rehearsals, opening night is looming. Many would flounder under the immense pressure, but the SYP veterans, who all harbour dreams of a stage career, see this furious race to get to the finish line as a valuable drill for the real thing.

“This is a good way to learn,” says Henry. “It’s about learning to listen to the director and what you have to look out for. It’s not about ego; it’s about gaining experience. The first show will be challenging. Everybody has opening night nerves. Once we’ve got over that it should run pretty smoothly.”

“The first night is going to be the most memorable,” grins Phoebe, from Witney. “I love doing the finale. That’s the first time you really look at the audience and think ‘Oh, that’s a lot of people’. There’s nothing like it.”

Grease runs at the Wyvern Theatre from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27. Tickets for Friday’s 4pm matinee are still available at swindontheatres.co.uk or on 01793 524 481.