Dancing in Travolta's giant footsteps

Eight months on and Grease is back, set to open at the 3000-seat theatre for a week-long run from Monday. 2003 Pop-Idol hopeful Suzanne Carley also returns as Sandy, the role made famous by Olivia Newton John. However, for this run, there’s a fresh face playing the fast-talking, quiffed T-bird and Rydell High heart-throb, Danny Zuko.

Scottish-born Norman Bowman is the latest in a long line of actors to land the coveted role and follow in the footsteps of John Travolta. A tough act to follow, as the 35-year-old from Arbroath admits, although his first reaction on hearing that he’d won the role was to let a celebratory "yee-hah."

"It’s a dream role," he says. "One of the most iconic musical theatre roles ever, and I don’t know many guys who wouldn’t want to be Danny Zuko. So when it came to me I was absolutely over the moon."

With the role, of course, comes Travolta’s legacy. "You worry about that later," he laughs. "It didn’t really dawn on me until I actually took to the stage and heard the screaming and shouting that goes on during the overture. That was when I realised what was in store.

"Of course, I know that it is John Travolta’s part. But do you know what? You can’t even escape doing a couple of things that are borrowed from him.

"You could play Danny Zuko several different ways, but Travolta provided the general template and it’s now the case that people don’t know Danny Zuko any other way, whether it’s the way you sing Sandy, or the strut . . ."

Talking of which, as one of Bowman’s predecessors discovered, recreating the Travolta strut can be tricky - the actor, who will remain nameless but is included in the list printed left, resembled a camp chicken. Laughing, Bowman says: "You’ve got me concerned now. But the way I see it is, you don’t move your arse as much as the rest of you. It shouldn’t be a mince.

"The thing is, when you walk out there as Danny, you have to sell the fact that you are worthy of the role to the audience very, very quickly. If you can do that they’ll be on your side for the next couple of hours."

For Bowman, accepting the role has brought him full circle. Seventeen years ago, Danny Zuko was the first lead role he was ever cast in, although back then it was on a strictly amateur basis, performing in the 600-seat Webster Theatre in his home town.

He recalls: "I was with a little amateur group called Midas that bridges Arbroath and Carnoustie and I was 18 at the time. To be playing this part, at the age of 35, almost 17 years after I did it as an amateur, is just incredible because there are some parts that, once they have gone by you, just don’t come back."

Bowman turned professional at the age of 24. "Before that I’d been an eternal student, but all the time harbouring these little ambitions of earning money doing what I loved best . . . singing," he concedes. "But up until then I never envisioned having the balls to move down to London and making such a drastic move."

That move has paid off. Next week’s trip to Edinburgh will mark the fourth time Bowman has toured with a big show to the Capital - he previously visited with The Pirates of Penzance, Cats and West Side Story. However, as musical theatre goes, he insists that Grease is still the word.

"I love the theme song . .. Grease IS the word," he says happily. "It’s just one of the best anthems ever. Talk about a song for a generation."

Grease, The Playhouse, Greenside Place, Monday-Thursday, 7.30pm, Friday and Saturday, 5pm and 8.30pm, 6.50-28.50, 0870-606 3424

NORMAN Bowman is the sixth actor to don the leather jacket and walk Danny’s walk across the Playhouse stage, while Suzanne Carley returns as Sandy - but where are their predecessors now?

1997: Ian Kelsey and Nikki Worrall

Former Emmerdale heart-throb Ian Kelsey took over the first Grease tour from Shane Ritchie in 1997 and was the first actor to play the role at The Playhouse, bringing that first tour to a close. On television Kelsey went on to star in Casualty and Down to Earth. Nikki Worrall went on to appear in the London West End production of Chicago and made a guest appearance in David Baddiel’s short-lived SKY TV series, Baddiel’s Syndrome.

1999: Luke Goss and Jasmine Jeffrey

Pop star and teenage heart-throb Luke Goss took over from Ian Kelsey. Since playing Danny at The Playhouse he has gone on to star in Holywood blockbusters including Zig Zag and Blade II with Wesley Snipes. Although Jasmine Jeffrey was last seen hanging out with the Rydell High Pink Ladies all attempts to trace her have failed - presumed stranded at the drive in.

2000: Steven Houghton and Irene Warren

Star of ITV’s London’s Burning, Steven Houghton took on the role of Danny in 2000. He later went on to appear in the BBC series Bugs and Holby City and is currently starring in the UK tour of Miss Saigon. On television, Cork-born Irene Warren played the singing nun in the hit cult series Father Ted.

2002: Craig Urbani and Haley Flaherty

Craig Urbani joined the Grease cast in Edinburgh 2002 and has since stared in the musicals The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Happy Days and Fame. He is currently touring with Kiss Me Kate, which plays the Festival Theatre over Christmas. Haley Flaherty went on to appear in a national touring production of Chicago.

2004: Ben Richards and Suzanne Carley

After appearing in Grease at The Playhouse earlier this year, Ben Richards then returned to Edinburgh in Saturday Night Fever and appeared on the West End in The Full Monty. He has since been cast in the popular ITV drama Footballers’ Wives. Pop Idol contestant Suzanne Carley continues to play Sandy throughout the 2004 tour.