I Am Grease Grillson - Fringe World 2026

Reviewed by Kate O'Sullivan

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Elise Wilson is one of those performers who makes the hard stuff look effortless — the kind of artist whose control and presence feel so natural that you almost forget how much craft is sitting underneath it all. Almost.

Her latest work, I Am Grease Grillson, is a joyful, chaotic, 40-minute explosion of character comedy that blends acting, clowning, writing, physical theatre and pure theatrical silliness into one tightly packed, ridiculously entertaining show.

Our introduction to Grease Grillson is perfect: a single bicep poking out from behind the Jonesway Theatre curtains. From there, we’re told that this is probably the strongest man in the world — a man capable of lifting elephants, cars, and more, all within the confines of a tiny black box theatre. And somehow, unbelievably, it works.

The comedy is built through extravagant physicality, precise sound work, and a kind of heightened theatrical nonsense that feels both meticulous and completely unhinged. The door slams in this show I don’t think the audience will ever recover from — and if that sentence alone doesn’t sell the tone, nothing will.

A huge part of the show’s success is how effortlessly Elise gets the audience on side. There’s no force, no demand — just charm, cheek and an instinctive understanding of how to pull people into Grease’s world. By the end, the audience isn’t just laughing — we’re chanting, dancing, booing on cue, and collectively participating in something that feels suspiciously close to cult behaviour (and honestly, I’d probably sign up).

But beneath the chaos, there’s real tenderness. As we learn more about Grease through flashbacks and present-day moments, the character becomes increasingly endearing. What starts as absurd comedy slowly reveals a surprisingly gentle emotional core, turning silliness into something quietly heartfelt.

Technically, this is a show that could exist with almost nothing — minimal lighting, sound, or costume — but those elements add a delicious extra layer. Subtle lighting shifts paired with Grease’s facial expressions elevate moments into pure comedy gold. The kind where the audience isn’t laughing together, but in waves — people cracking at different details, different beats, different tiny choices.

I Am Grease Grillson is funny, silly, chaotic and weirdly wholesome. With funky dance moves, fearless physicality, and a performer willing to fling herself fully into absurdity, the show asks a deceptively simple question: “Am I enough?”. And by the end, the answer feels pretty clear.

Reviewer note: Kate has previously worked with Elise. Tickets for this review were provided by the theatre company.