A raised gong mallet, a red tracksuit and two teachers nose to nose: new production photographs of Disney's High School Musical put Harry Judd's Coach Bolton up against KayCee Stroh's Ms Darbus, on the day the show begins performances at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
The pictures are by Matt Crockett, and they arrive as Disney's High School Musical opens its London run at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre tonight, Monday 12 October 2026.
Judd, of McFly, appears twice. In one frame he squares up to Stroh in the coach's red tracksuit. In the other he stands hands on hips in a grey East High Wildcats T-shirt, whistle round his neck. Stroh gets a frame to herself in front of the Performing Arts blackboard, mallet aloft and gong at the ready. The widest shot pulls back to the whole stage: Leonor Correia as Gabriella Montez and Tobias Turley as Troy Bolton perched on a crescent moon while the company dances below them in blue light.
Judd took the role over from Jason Donovan at the end of the summer season at Lowry in Salford, and the first photograph of him as the coach was released in September.
The rest of the principal line-up comes south with the show: Caitlin Tipping as Sharpay Evans, Luke Bayer as Ryan Evans, 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 ensemble is Alexander Black, Eleanor Bye, Harriet Caplan-Dean, Alison Driver, Conor Luke Drury, Mary Francis, Sonia Gil-Lubeiro, Tamsin January, Joseph Lennox, Lucas Morlotti, Katie Mulligan, André Phipps, Meg Silsby, Kade Stenson, Ethan Vijn and Eddie Zickerman.
The stage version marks twenty years since the Disney Channel film. David Simpatico wrote the book, Bryan Louiselle adapted, arranged and produced the music, and Hope Mill founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton share the direction, with choreography by Aaron Renfree. The score keeps the film's hits, among them Breaking Free, Get'cha Head in the Game, Stick to the Status Quo and We're All In This Together. Hope Mill Theatre and Chris Harper Productions produce, in association with Lowry.
Press night is Tuesday 20 October 2026. Disney's High School Musical is booking at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre until Sunday 3 January 2027.
