Young star's leap from Glasgow 'Fame school' to UK tour of Grease

“To be back, and in a professional show myself, is crazy,” he says, with a laugh.

“My training in Glasgow absolutely inspired me. It gave me the confidence to take things to the next level.”

The 23-year-old adds: “The Dance School of Scotland at Knightswood Secondary was like the school from Fame, it was incredible. Normal school part of the time, then musical theatre classes – it was brilliant. I made friends for life.”

Kieran is starring in the acclaimed UK and Ireland tour of Grease, which will be at Glasgow’s King’s Theatre from June 17 to 22.

Directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips, it is the famous tale of teenage true love, trials and tribulations at Rydell High.

The young cast includes stars Marley Fenton as leather-clad cool guy Danny and Hope Dawe as sweet girl-next-door Sandy, and the score features hits such as Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted to You and You’re the One That I Want.

Kieran, who recently played the title role in Peter Pan at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, stars as Doody.

The 1978 film version of Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, is the fourth highest-grossing live action musical of all time, but this version goes back to the show’s early, grittier, 1970s stage roots, he explains.

“It’s a completely different take on it really, from the film, which was more like a cartoon,” says Kieran. “This is fresher, a bit darker even. The sound is different too – a bit rockier.

“And audiences have been going crazy for it.”

More than 50 years on, Grease remains popular because it is still relevant, he adds.

“It’s set in the 50s, when young people were starting a revolution, an uprising against the very rigid lives their parents lived in the 30s and 40s,” he says.

“Rock and roll had arrived, the clothes were changing, there were diners, fast cars – sex and drugs and rock and roll.

“There’s always been that dynamic between kids and parents or teachers, where the kids are retaliating against authority, hanging out with their friends. I think young people relate to that.”

He adds: “And I think this version is more relatable than the movie, where you’ve got 30-year-olds playing teenagers.”

Grease was one of Kieran’s first “glimpses” into the world of musical theatre, he explains,

“We had it on VHS and used to watch it as a family,” he says, grinning. “And there was always that Grease megamix that came on whenever you went to a party, so everyone knew the songs.

“But coming to it as an actor was completely different. I knew right away I didn’t want to play Doody the way he is played in the film.”

Interestingly, the T-Birds in the movie are actually the Burger Palace Boys in the stage show.

“It was changed for the film because T-Birds sounded cooler,” says Kieran, smiling. “So Doody is one of the Burger Palace Boys, a bit less goofy than he is in the movie. He’s more of a younger brother, eager and enthusiastic, not really that cool.”

The tour will take Kieran all over the UK for the next nine months, after which he hopes he will be “London-bound”. He’s excited about the Glasgow and Edinburgh dates, where family and friends are turning out to support him.

“Oh yes, the whole family is coming,” he says, laughing, “I can’t wait.”

Edinburgh-born Kieran, who is now 23, went to ArtsEd drama school in London after leaving Glasgow. He admits he nearly gave up acting altogether during the Covid outbreaks and lockdowns.

“I was out, managing a bar, planning to become a barber,” he says, smiling. “Then, about 18 months ago, I just decided to take a leap and jump back in. And it really worked.

“It’s all been very quick since then. I was so lucky to get Peter Pan, and now Grease - everything just seems to be happening at the right time.”

He adds: “I know lots of friends who did leave the industry and they are very happy doing different things, but I love what I do. I’m glad I gave it another go.”