The last time Phoebe Roberts was at Manchester’s Palace Theatre she was so young she needed a chaperone to accompany her everywhere.

“Gosh that was what, 2010. I was playing Young Eponine in the 25th anniversary tour of Les Miserables,” she recalled. “I’d come out of the stage door after a show with my chaperone and my mum and dad were waiting to take me home every night.”

Jayd’N Tyrone and Phoebe Roberts in Grease the Musical                                                                                                                                          (Picture: Marc Brenner)

Now Phoebe’s back at the venue playing Patty Simcox in Grease The Musical which runs until next Saturday.

“I don’t need the chaperone any more,” she laughed. “But, having said that, my mum is picking me up after the show tonight!”

If your experience of Grease is limited to the hit movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Phoebe believes that the stage version will surprise you.

“It’s got a lot more grit than the movie,” said Phoebe. “You get to see and learn more about the various characters. I remember when we did the first read through for the show, I realised that my part was much bigger than I thought it was.

“In the film Patti’s just a small character; an annoying person who no-one really likes. But in our production you see so much more of her and who she is. I hope the way I play her is less annoying than she is in the film.

“I’d never seen previous productions of the stage show so I just didn’t have anything to base her on but people have said they really enjoy the way she comes across so I think I’ve got it right.”

Set in 1959, Grease charts the lives of American teenagers preparing to leave Rydell High at a time when rock and roll was emerging and ‘the teenager’ was becoming a thing.

At the school the Pink Ladies rule the roost, looking down on the likes of Patti who enjoys books and studying.

“That’s the last thing they are interested in,” laughed Phoebe. “But again in our show they are less cartoon-like and you discover more about them. We’re all teenagers not quite sure of what the world has in store for us.”

Marley Fenton (Danny) and Hope Dawe (Sandy) in Grease (Picture: Marc Brenner)

At the heart of the show is the romance between bad boy Danny Zuko and the squeaky clean new girl Sandy Dombrowski and some of the most popular songs ever written for a musical including Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted to You and the number one hit You’re the One That I Want.

“All the songs which people love are in the show,” said Phoebe. “I just love it when the audience starts singing along to them. I know some people don’t like that but to me it shows just how much they are enjoying themselves and are really into the show.

“And the audiences we have had on the whole tour - Grease began touring the UK in March - have all been great. They know where the boundaries are and we’ve not had any problems.

“When you are walking around town heading to the theatre you can see groups of Pink Ladies all dressed up. I just love that. It’s so special knowing knowing that people are choosing to come and spend their money and their time to come and watch you.

“I know that sounds so cheesy and so much like my character - but then I am a bit like Patti - but I love it when you can see hen parties and groups in the audience out for a good time.

The cast of Grease (Picture: Marc Brenner)

“But as well as all the songs people know so well, the show also has some of the original stage numbers which weren’t included in the film and they are really good. When we heard them with the band for the first time in rehearsal, I thought they were really cool and they add something extra to the show.”

This tour of Grease is slightly unusual in that there are no major names in the production and it is a relatively young cast.

“I think that works in our favour,” said Phoebe. “There is such a great energy among us both on and off the stage. We are playing teenagers and we’re not that far removed from our teens which I think adds to the story.

“We’re also very close as a group. That vibe you will see from us on stage is pretty much the same vibe we have off stage.”

Grease comes to Manchester after a week’s break.

“It’s funny,” said Phoebe, “we’d only had a week off but I really missed everyone. As soon as we got to the theatre again we never stopped talking about what we’d been up to and catching up. When you are in a long tour like this it’s so good to have a good bunch of people around you.”

As well as playing Patti, Phoebe is also understudy for the key role of Sandy.

“I’ve done quite a few shows as Sandy which has been really fun,” she said. “I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity. There are some scenes which feature Sandy and Patti so at first that felt a bit weird when I was playing Sandy as it was like doing the opposite version of what I was used to.

“But it’s been great and I hope I get another shot at it before the runs ends.”

Phoebe was in Manchester last year as part of the cast of Annie at the Opera House and is delighted to be back in the city again so soon.

While the show’s at the Palace she will be splitting her time between staying in digs and visiting friends and family in Mirfield near Huddersfield.

“It’s my grandma’s birthday while we’re here so I can’t miss that,” she said.

Grease is at Manchester’s Palace Theatre until Saturday, October 19. Details from www.atgtickets.com