Review: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL - The Lowry, Salford (27/08/26)

Immersion and nostalgia are strong with this new major anniversary staging

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Two decades on from this Disney Channel original movie hitting our screens, and almost as long since it was last seen in the theatre, school is officially back in session as "High School Musical" returns to the stage, and it's bigger and better than it's ever been. This new staging by Hope Mill Theatre, in association with Chris Harper Productions, has well and truly ripped up the rulebook with how to fully immerse an audience in a show, with not only on stage seating for a handful of audience members, a trend that seems to be in fashion these days, but also a highly interactive, high energy presentation that makes us feel like we're right there at East High.

For anyone unfamiliar with the franchise, the show tells of basketball star Troy Bolton, his winter break meeting and impromptu karaoke duet with scholastically gifted Gabriella Montez, and their unexpected reunion at school, following the relocation of the latter's mother to New Mexico. Though they each have their own cliques relating to their respective passions, they each come to realise their love of music and singing, and end up auditioning as a pair for the upcoming winter musical, which certainly doesn't go down well with twins Sharpay and Ryan, the tyrannical drama club leaders, who will stop at nothing to make sure they get the lead in the school production every year.

The company of "High School Musical" (credit: Matt Crockett)

With just the right balance of comedy, cringe and sheer spectacle, this feels like a reinvigoration of a modern classic for new audiences, but also retaining a wonderful sense of nostalgia that is ever present for millennials like me who grew up with this franchise, as these songs will no doubt have featured in many a wedding, school disco, or carpool karaoke over the years. And although the story isn't necessarily one that will ever win awards for its narrative depth, the showmanship and entertainment value is absolutely off the charts, from Andrew Exeter's humongous, sprawling set design, including scoreboards and side stage screens, to some high energy, vivacious choreography by Aaron Renfree, really helping the ensemble shine bright, this is a production with unbridled escapism at its very core.

From the moment we walk into the vast auditorium of the Lyric auditorium of the Lowry, we feel fully immersed in the world of "High School Musical", as if we've just stumbled into a pep rally, with cheerleaders on stage getting us all whipped up into a frenzy, and the Wildcat mascot taking to the stage to get the show started while serotonin levels are at their peak. And this energy is maintained throughout, even through the transitions, often by means of Curtis Patrick as school announcer Jack Scott, providing immense charisma and humour, for which co-directors (and Hope Mill Theatre founders) Joseph Houston and William Whelton deserve huge plaudits, in spite of a slightly unevenly paced final scene.

There are many superb performances to highlight in this cast, from the swagger yet sincerity of Jordan Benjamin as basketball nut Chad Danforth, to the endlessly adorkable Yva Tresvalles bringing no shortage of quirkiness to the role of pianist and composer Kelsi Nielsen. Jason Donovan is sturdy, if not a little one-note, as coach Bolton, though he wears his heart on his sleeve wonderfully, especially as he and son Troy reconcile, whilst original film actor Kaycee Stroh, best known as the poppin', jammin' Martha Cox, returns as drama teacher Ms Darbus, clearly channeling Alyson Reed to some degree, but also putting her own brilliant spin on the character, in a rather poignant full circle moment for the HSM legend.

Leonor Correia and Tobias Turley (credit: Matt Crockett)

There is plenty to love about lead pair Troy and Gabriella, played by rising stage stars Tobias Turley and Leonor Correia respectively, each making their character completely their own, and their on stage chemistry is marvellously endearing. The real stars of the show though, as no doubt they would want, are Caitlin Tipping and Luke Bayer as Sharpay and Ryan Evans, two villains that you truly love to hate, each blessed with supreme triple threat talent, and who fill that stage any time they enter. They make us want to root against them, however we can't help but be drawn in by their natural presence and showmanship, the perfect antagonistic pair.

It feels long overdue to have a major revival of "High School Musical", however Hope Mill have more than made up for lost time, with a stunning slam-dunk of a show that certainly packs a punch, we laugh, we cringe, and we revel in the unparalleled pizzazz of it all. Whether or not you're a fan of the films, you are bound to find something you love in this jam-packed, high octane production that is bound to make you soar, fly, and bop to the top!

★★★★☆ (4*)

"High School Musical" runs at The Lowry until the 19th of September, which will be followed by an engagement at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre from the 12th of October (tickets)

{PR/Invite}