Make sure you’re sitting down for this, because my next words might drop your jaw: I’ve never watched High School Musical. Yes, I was in the perfect tween age bracket when the Disney movie was first released in 2006, and yes, I love a musical. But for some reason (likely my 10-year-old self finding it impossibly cringy) the franchise, starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, completely passed me by. So a stage adaptation of the first hit film coming to London? Colour me intrigued. The movies, after all, brought worldwide acclaim for stars like Lucas Grabeel, Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu, and later the TV series helped to launch pop star Olivia Rodrigo’s career.
The stage revival actually sees the return of one of the film’s original stars, KayCee Stroh. The actress plays drama teacher Ms Darbus, but is best known for originating the role of Martha Cox in the movie trilogy, as well as appearing in Disney TV shows like The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
She’s joined by McFly star Harry Judd as Coach Bolton. Sadly, we don’t get to hear much of drummer Harry’s dulcet tones as he sings literally two words in the whole musical, but his dancing more than makes up for it.
Tobias Turley takes on the role of basketball player Troy Bolton (originated by Efron in the films), while Leonor Correia plays Gabriella Montez. They’re joined by Caitlin Tipping as Sharpay Evans, Luke Bayer as Ryan Evans, and Ana Tresvalles as Kelsi Nielsen.
I was transported right into the world of East High as soon as I walked through the doors of the Troubadour Theatre in Wembley. The entry hall is home to a karaoke booth, plenty of spots for photos and glittering disco balls hanging from the ceiling. As you take your seats, immersive audio brings East High to life.
The stage itself has been transformed into an American high school gym, with bleachers on either side seating lucky audience members who managed to snag a court side ticket. Even from the stalls, though, we were led in an enthusiastic cheerleading routine, and encouraged to chant for school mascot Walt the Wildcat, before the play starts in earnest.
High School Musical’s stage adaptation felt like a film being brought to life in front of me. Although I’ve never watched the movie in its entirety, I was aware enough of the big hits (Breaking Free, Get’cha Head in the Game, We’re All in This Together and Bop to the Top) to quickly become immersed in the story.
The production is beautifully slick. I broke out in goosebumps for the duet of Breaking Free, as Gabriella and Troy soared close to the ceiling on a flying crescent moon with their harmonies blending perfectly together.
Cast members make full use of the entire space, with cameras filming key moments and even a quasi Kiss Cam filming the audience. At various points the cast members thundered past our seats as though emerging from another part of the school and rushing into the gym.
Being at the Troubadour had one slight drawback, however, in that it sometimes felt difficult for the sets to change. Lockers set at the back of the hall pull out to turn into various pieces of furniture, but they all have to be moved by the ensemble, and sometimes it looked like a struggle without mechanical assistance.
It also drew me out of the play a little to see cast members struggling to close doors that had accidentally flapped open, or to hold open doors that needed to be open.
All in all, though, High School Musical is a stunning injection of Disney magic into London – make sure you catch it before its run ends on January 3.
