The first non-replica UK staging of Disney's High School Musical had its official opening night at Lowry in Salford on Thursday 27 August, with Russell T Davies and a run of Manchester screen names in the audience.
Disney's High School Musical opened officially at Lowry in Salford on Thursday 27 August. It is the first non-replica UK production of the show, and it runs there until Saturday 19 September before transferring to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London from Monday 12 October.
Guests at the opening included the writer Russell T Davies, John Thompson, Ellie Leach, Catherine Tyldesley and Nick Pickard, alongside two of the production's own creatives: choreographer Aaron Renfree and make-up designer Dominic Skinner.
The casting changes with the venue. Jason Donovan plays Coach Bolton at Lowry, with Harry Judd taking the role over for the London dates. Carrying across both venues are KayCee Stroh as Ms Darbus, Tobias Turley as Troy Bolton, Leonor Correia as Gabriella Montez, Caitlin Tipping as Sharpay Evans and Luke Bayer as Ryan Evans, with Char Burnett as Taylor McKessie, Jordan Benjamin as Chad Danforth, Simeon Beckett as Zeke Baylor, Olivia O'Connor as Martha Cox, Yna Tresvalles as Kelsi Nielson and Curtis Patrick as Jack Scott.
The production marks 20 years since the film. It has a book by David Simpatico, with the music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle, and is co-directed by the Hope Mill Theatre founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton, with choreography by Aaron Renfree. The score keeps the songs the film made familiar, among them Breaking Free, We're All In This Together, Get'cha Head in the Game and Stick to the Status Quo.
It is produced by Hope Mill Theatre and Chris Harper Productions in association with Lowry, and co-produced by Winkler & Smalberg, Catherine Schrieber, Drew & Dane Productions, Kevin & Kate McGrath, Merritt Baer, Marc Levine, Andrei Cotocu for Seabright Live and Michael Watt Productions.
We published the first production photographs earlier this week.
Disney's High School Musical runs at Lowry until 19 September 2026, then at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre from 12 October 2026.
