Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

REVIEW - Disney's High School Musical is a slam dunk of a show!

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We were invited to The Lyric Theatre Lowry, Salford, to see Disney's High School Musical. Read what our reviewer Karen Ryder had to say about this amazing production...

Go Wildcats! Hope Mill Theatre and Chris Harper Productions’ new stage version of High School Musical is an absolute smash! What a show! Positivity ricocheted around the Lyric Theatre, Lowry with a momentum that never stopped, bouncing from cast to audience and back again until the whole place was alive. It’s infectious, irresistible, and honestly, a little bit magical. Consider me officially converted into a fan! Celebrating twenty years since Disney’s High School Musical first became a global sensation, this unmissable new production is both nostalgic and freshly charged and at Lowry till 19^th September before moving to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London in October. With a book by David Simpatico and music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle, this version leans proudly into the spirit of the original whilst entirely carving out its own identity. And of course, the show brings back the unforgettable songs that defined a generation, Breaking Free, Get’cha Head in the Game, Stick to the Status Quo and We’re All In This Together. These songs instantly lift the energy in the room and remind you why this story became such a phenomenon in the first place. And witnessing these Disney classics in a live theatre setting is something else!

High School Musical follows two teenagers who don’t quite fit the boxes they’ve been placed in - Troy, the golden‑boy basketball star, and Gabriella, the shy academic powerhouse. A chance meeting reveals they both secretly love to sing, and their unexpected decision to audition for the school musical sends shockwaves through East High. Suddenly the cliques such as jocks, brainiacs, and thespians are all rattled, because Troy and Gabriella are breaking the status quo, forcing everyone to question their own identities and leading to a revelation of confessions. What unfolds is a feel‑good story about breaking free, stepping outside your label, challenging expectations, and discovering that you’re allowed to be more than one thing. It’s sweet, it’s earnest, and at its heart it’s about finding your voice, even when the world around you isn’t quite ready for the change.

Co - directed by Hope Mill’s very own Joseph Houston and William Whelton, High School Musical has captured the essence of youth and the picture-perfect dream of life in an American high school. They have approached this Disney classic with respect, love, passion, intelligence, and outstanding knowledge of how to put on a show that people will not only fall in love with but that will ignite and connect us to our own bright-eyed optimism of joy, hope, and possibility. Joe and Will have tapped into something wonderfully rare - that Disney sparkle which leaves even the most cynical of adults glowing with childlike wonder. Their vision breathes new life into High School Musical whilst remaining faithful enough to honour and satisfy loyal fans. It never feels like they have simply reproduced the film on stage because they have embraced the art form of theatre to the story’s advantage, exposing it to a world of bold, theatrical possibility.

From the moment you shimmy your way into the auditorium, you can feel the authenticity of a sporting stadium that is alive with adrenaline before a championship game! The theatre and sporting worlds become connected as one, married through the passion of a live performance! It’s instantly clear that this production of High School Musical isn’t just any old show, it’s an experience to live, breathe and behold! The entire stage is transformed into a fully realised basketball court, complete with on‑stage bleachers that seat audience members who absolutely lap it up! I mean, what an opportunity to actually sit within the show and become a part of the action. It is iconic as it sounds! The atmosphere is electric as cast members ripple through the crowds, sparking Mexican waves around the theatre, whilst audience cams sweep across faces with the playful bravado of an American sports broadcast, before a marching band erupts through the aisles in a blaze of red and white to start the show with the infectious ‘We’re All In This Together,’ and I have to say, that sentiment is captured beautifully by the outpouring of love in the Lyric Theatre. It’s impossible not to be swept up in the energy and positivity that this production radiates, igniting the audience with a pulse that never quite settles.

What makes this show so exciting is how confidently it blurs the line between performer and spectator. The staging is a kaleidoscope of movement, detail, and discovery. Performers burst onto the court while others drift onto the sloping steps that dissolve the boundary between audience and stage. The result is a world that feels constantly in motion, a living, breathing statement that theatre can be immersive without losing clarity. It’s theatre that refuses to sit still. The collaboration between set design (Andrew Exeter), video design (George Reeve), sound design (Matt Peploe), lighting design (Rory Beaton), and costume design (Sophia Pardon) is exemplary and took the show into a whole new stratosphere. Sorry to offer up a cheesy HSM pun here, but they really were all in this together because the result was something entirely fresh, invigorating and flawless! The set made use of the huge staging at Lowry in recreating the basketball court, extending the vision with overhead central score boards as well as screens around the theatre. The back of the stage was compiled of lockers that were expertly crafted to break apart and create a new set when needed, and curtains were pulled across the switch things up to the school theatre. The staging was almost split across three levels, with the main stage, a balcony area, and the steps down into the audience, creating a multi-dimensional world. The video design allowed projections to change location across the back of the stage, projections onto the stage itself, and even used the lockers as screens to vibe up the sporting atmosphere with dancing Wildcats, game play instructions, snowy mountains, text emoji’s and even fireworks! The screens also doubled up as karaoke visuals, audience cam, and live feeds from the show itself, meaning you never knew what was going to appear next! The sound was so immersive too with the sounds of bubbling experiments and test tubes in the science lab, and even continued throughout the interval, where the squeaking of trainers on the court, and the bouncing of the basketball were pumped into the theatre so the spell was never broken. Lights were used to create spaces and location in new and inventive ways, mapping out a stage in the theatre department or creating silhouettes or spotlights to move the story along. The costumes were fresh and new, whilst remaining faithful to the characters and brought the perfect blend of showbiz glitter for Ryan and Sharpay, with sporting coolness and intelligent chic! And I would kill for one of the finales tracksuits is all I’m saying!

Choreographed by Aaron Renfree, there are new moves galore and you know they are the perfect fit when you find you aren’t pining for the ones from the film but desperately trying to learn these new ones instead! Now I’m very aware that I am way past my high school years so am possibly that cringe adult wanting to bop along, but what can I say? The years melted away and I absolutely refused to stick to the status quo of acting my age! We were even taught some of the moves by the cheerleaders at the start of the show, so get ready to release your inner Wildcat people! The ensemble dancing was stunning throughout, and I have to mention ‘Get’cha Head In The Game’ as the basketball choreography was undeniably impressive and rightly earned its fair share of mesmerised whoops and whistles from the audience. The styling, timing and slickness of incorporating an object that is designed to move was flawless, inventive and so precise it amazed!

The big names in the casting are of course Jason Donovan as Coach Bolton and Kaycee Stroh as Ms Darbus, but this whole ensemble blend together effortlessly like a true community! Jason Donovan brings us a domineering Coach Bolton who is so impassioned by his sport, he misses the bigger picture, and there are some really intense and dramatic scenes played out, bringing excellent dynamics to this wholesome musical. Every time he walks onto the stage he has a presence and it is utilised within his character to perfection. His change of heart towards Troys singing feels organic and we even get a couple of lines sung in this non-singing role in the finale, much to the delight of fans like myself! Kaycee Stroh lights up the stage as Ms Darbus and brings us theatrical flare, humour, and showbiz pizazz by the bucketful. She gives us a character who is a little eccentric and proud to be so and owns exactly who she is, every last flounce, sweep and enunciation, and the audience lapped it up! We are treated to her famous dance moves too and the theatre went insane with love for this favourite HSM OG! What an experience, and even though she may have been our original Martha, I have to say, she was absolutely born to embody Ms Darbus! Tobias Turley is totally captivating as Troy Bolton, impressing with his basketball skills, connecting and engaging with every cast member with a truth and honesty, and powering out stunning vocals that hook you in and melt your heart. There is an authenticity to his performance that provides the style and charm needed for a show such as High School Musical. Leonor Correia is our wonderful Gabriella and plays her with a stunning combination of sweet and strong. Her performance is genuine, believable and really made an impression, especially on younger audience members. There was something truly refreshing about a female role built on self-worth and inner steadiness. Her strength wasn’t shouted but felt and expressed through quiet confidence, dignity, and a comfort in her own skin that spoke with its own kind of volume.

Caitlin Tipping and Luke Bayer are Sharpay and Ryan Evans and everything you could wish for! Bursting with personality, flare, humour, and showbiz shenanigans, they become one with these spotlight hungry twins and give such nuanced performances that it is hard to take your eyes off them. Caitlin Tipping cracks open Sharpay’s glittery exterior and shows us the vulnerable, driven girl underneath. Suddenly her obsession with centre stage makes sense, and she becomes a character you can empathise with rather than just a senseless mean girl. Luke Bayer is cheeky, cheery and full of charm as Ryan, and has really carved out his own identity in this production, rather than him just being Sharpay’s shadow. He has his own opinions and stance from the off, and we see they are on different paths to get to the same place. Together they are mesmerising - a powerhouse of singing, acting, and dancing that will make your jaw drop! Yna Tresvalles, Jordan Benjamin, Simeon Beckett, and Curtis Patrick complete the main cast as Kelsi, Chad, Zeke, and Jack. They each carve out clear characters, have pivotal moments, and make us emote whether that be laughter, joy, or love.

To say that this production of High School Musical is full of wow moments is an understatement. With hilarious moments in the drama room detention, where the surprising highlight and audience favourite was the hilarity of James the earth worm, to inventive and inspired theatrical storytelling such as the final shot of the championship game. No spoilers here but trust me, it will give you goosebumps on your goosebumps! Whilst I’ve always had a soft spot for High School Musical, I was in my twenties when it first arrived and so slightly outside its intended age bracket. But my love of Disney and musicals meant I walked into this production with an open heart and I’m so glad I did because this is a show worth gushing about. I wasn’t prepared for how cleverly it would be reimagined and transformed. It is still faithful to the story, still full of charm, but suddenly grown up, confident, and ready to announce itself to the world. It’s as if the show steps forward and says, “This is who I am. Respect me.” And honestly, I do. It is something truly special with a feel‑good energy and wholesome family vibe that avoids tipping into gooey overload, creating a fresh, exciting new chapter in theatre. This production not only allow nostalgia to thrive but creates a space for families to theatre together. There aren’t many shows that work for all ages, but High School Musical ‘hit the dagger’! (Ok yes, I did have to google some basketball references for that one. I hope I used it right!) High School Musical is bold, immersive, and bursting with life. It’s a thrilling reinvention that proves the show still has plenty of surprises left. It is a new wave of theatre, bold, immersive, and unapologetically alive. Go and watch High School Musical whilst you can because it is a slam dunk of a show!

WE SCORE DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL...