Grease star to take lead in city show

Grease Is The Word winner Susan McFadden will be on stage in Wolverhampton next week, as the lead in a smash-hit musical.

Susan will play Milly Pontipee in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers at the Grand Theatre from Wednesday to Sunday.

Dublin-born Susan was one of eight finalists in the ITV1 show Grease Is The Word in 2007, and won a public vote to play the role of Sandy. The show's judges included David Gest, Sinitta, and former X Factor judge and celebrity choreographer Brian Friedman. Susan played Sandy opposite drama student Danny Bayne, and the duo starred in the West End production of Grease at London's Piccadilly Theatre.

"Grease Is The Word was nerve-wracking," said Susan. "A lot of performers see these types of shows as a way of getting your foot in the door as it raises your profile. It's almost like 'if you can't beat them, join them'. It's an opportunity to have a showcase. I never thought for one moment I would win. Once the TV show and the hype was over, it was nice. I had a year-long contract, it was a vocal challenge so I had to look after myself.

"People in Ireland couldn't vote for me so it meant more for me to win here. I had no community behind me, I was doing it all alone. Danny was only 19 at the time, he was like my little brother so it was a bit strange but he was great."

The 26-year-old actress is the sister of Westlife's Brian McFadden, and lives in London with her boyfriend. Susan will star opposite former London's Burning actor Steven Houghton in Howard Keel's Seven Brothers For Seven Sisters until July.

Voted the third most popular musical of all time by BBC Radio 2 listeners, the show features 16 show-stopping hits including Bless Your Beautiful Hide, Goin' Courtin, Spring Spring Spring and Wonderful Wonderful Day.

Susan continued: "This is my first time on tour in the UK, being Irish I would probably never come to any of these places normally. It's nice to see outside of London. The show is quite different to what I've done so far.

"Seven Brothers is a more strenuous role and involves a lot of running around. It's a quite a traditional musical and is set in the 1800s. It's very period – women were to be seen and not heard.

"My character breaks the mould a bit, she's feisty. She tames these men, the seven brothers. She is a contradiction to what was expected of women at the time, which I love."

To book tickets for Seven Brothers For Seven Sisters, call the Grand on 01902 429212.