West End’s Grease dedicates all performances to Olivia Newton-John

The team behind the current hit West End production of Grease has dedicated the rest of the run at the Dominion Theatre to the memory of Olivia Newton-John following the announcement of the much-loved star’s death at 73.

Describing the singer on Twitter as ‘an icon who has inspired countless young performers across the world, not least our company of Grease in the West End’, the production went on to post: ‘Our thoughts are with Olivia’s family and loved ones at this difficult time. We’d like to dedicate this evening’s performance and the rest of our run to Olivia’s memory and everything she represented.’

The West End production was among a vast number of tributes paid to the star who will always be remembered as the incandescent Sandy in the classic 1978 film musical in response to her husband John Easterling’s announcement of the sad news on social media.

In his post on Facebook, her husband since 2008 wrote: ‘Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.’

Leading the tributes was Olivia’s Danny and long-time friend John Travolta who posted: ‘My dearest Olivia, you made all our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love so much. We will see you again. Yours from the moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny! Your John!’

Born in Cambridge in 1948, Olivia Newton-John was famously brought up in Melbourne, Australia from the age of six. After winning a TV talent show in 1965, Olivia’s prize brought her back to the UK where she would record her first single ‘Till You Say You’ll Be Mine’ on Decca Records in 1966.

A successful recording and TV music show career followed in the 1970s, with pop hits in the UK and country music hits in the US. The singer also represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with the song ‘Long Live Love’, coming a respectable fourth behind ABBA’s ‘Waterloo’.

With an inauspicious start to her film career in the flop 1970 sci-fi Toomorrow, and concerned that she was too young to play the teenage Sandy, the star was initially reluctant to take on her iconic role in Grease. She reportedly changed her mind after a screen test opposite John Travolta and the rest is cinematic history. In 2019, to the delight of fans, Olivia re-united with Travolta for three live Grease singalong events in the US.

While Grease was a hit film adaptation of a Tony-nominated stage musical, Olivia’s first film following Grease, Xanadu was a critical failure that in turn spawned a Tony-nominated Broadway musical.

Olivia Newton-John died at home on her ranch in California following a 30-year battle with cancer. She leaves behind her husband, businessman and conservationist John Easterling and her singer/actress daughter Chloe Lattanzi from her first marriage to former actor and dancer Matt Lattanzi.

Angela Thomas