High School Musical at Wembley Troubadour Theatre Review
Photo: Piers Allardyce
Following the crowd up the stairs, I gradually heard the cheerleaders’ chants growing louder. Before long, I found myself in the stands at East High. The school logo was emblazoned on the gymnasium’s wooden floor, a neat row of red and white lockers lined the back of the space, a scoreboard hung overhead, and two screens were positioned on either side of the gym (Andrew Exeter, Set Design). At the centre of the court, the cheerleaders were teaching the audience the Wildcats’ cheers, with the crowd following their lead, shouting along and performing the accompanying moves. It felt as though I had stepped back twenty years into the familiar world of an American high school from the film.
High School Musical, Disney’s 2006 teen musical film, has become a lasting part of many people’s youth, with songs such as Start of Something New, Bop to the Top and We’re All in This Together resonating with audiences around the world. The story has now made its way to the stage, with a book by David Simpatico, co-directed by Joseph Houston and William Whelton, and musical adaptation, arrangements and production by Bryan Louiselle. KayCee Stroh, who played the hip-hop-loving Martha Cox in the original film, also returns in the stage production, this time as Ms Darbus, the school’s drama teacher.
The story itself is relatively straightforward. Troy (Tobias Turley) is the captain of the basketball team, while Gabriella (Leonor Correia) is an academically gifted student. Sharing a love of singing, they decide to audition for the school musical. In doing so, they challenge the unwritten rules of their school: basketball players are expected to focus on the sport, high-achieving students should concentrate on their studies, and the leading roles in the school musical are expected to go to more experienced performers. Despite their friends’ disapproval and the obstacles they encounter, Troy and Gabriella remain determined to pursue their interests. As they grow closer, they also develop romantic feelings for each other, while encouraging those around them to look beyond preconceived labels and embrace different possibilities.
The cast delivers energetic performances, with Caitlin Tipping and Luke Bayer particularly captivating as Sharpay and Ryan in their two exuberant numbers. Ultimately, however, the production relies far more on nostalgia than on the strength of its story or characters. Although the characters have distinct personalities, they remain somewhat one-dimensional, while the plot is largely predictable. At times, the dialogue serves little more than to bridge the musical numbers, leaving the story with little room to breathe. Both the chemistry between Turley and Correia and the father-son relationship between Turley and Harry Judd, who plays his father, Coach Bolton, would benefit from further development.
The most compelling moments come when the students sing and dance together in their vibrant costumes (Sophia Pardon, Costume Design). Under Aaron Renfree’s choreography, the musical numbers take on a new energy. The most impressive sequence brings together the basketball game, the musical auditions and the science competition, all playing out simultaneously. Another highlight for me is the reprise of Start of Something New. Unlike its first appearance, this version is quieter, slower and more tender. Blue light spills across the stage, seeming to draw the entire auditorium into the moment.
The original High School Musical film was not without its flaws, particularly in its somewhat one-dimensional characterisation. Yet it still became an enduring part of so many people’s youth. This stage adaptation offers audiences the chance to relive those memories together. Despite its shortcomings, it still has the potential to move audiences. At the very least, I could feel the joy in the gymnasium. And as the cast grows more connected over the course of the run, that sense of collective energy could bring the production even more to life.
High School Musical plays at London's Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre until 3rd January 2027.
★★★★
Written by Ziwen for Theatre and Tonic, October 2026.