Disney’s High School Musical opens in London and the stars take a trip down memory lane

Last night, we were all in it together at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre as London celebrated the official opening of Disney’s High School Musical.

Hailed as “Electric, heart-racing and magnificently entertaining” in a glowing WhatsOnStage review, co-directors Joseph Houston and William Whelton’s revival marks the show’s first UK non-replica production, and fans and VIPs flocked to Wembley to show their support.

After the curtain call, we caught up with principal cast members Tobias Turley (who plays Troy), Leonor Correia (Gabriella), Caitlin Tipping (Sharpay), Luke Bayer (Ryan), Jordan Benjamin (Chad), Char Burnett (Taylor), McFly’s Harry Judd (making his professional stage debut as Coach Bolton), and KayCee Stroh (who appeared in the original Disney movies and now takes on the role of Ms Darbus) and we were curious to hear about their musical memories from their own high school days.

You can watch all the highlights below:

The London cast is completed by Simeon Beckett (as Zeke Baylor), Olivia O’Connor (as Martha Cox), Yna Tresvalles (as Kelsi Nielson) and Curtis Patrick (as Jack Scott), alongside 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.

Featuring a book by David Simpatico and music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle, the stage version of High School Musical includes songs such as “Breaking Free”, “We’re All In This Together”, “Get’cha Head in the Game” and “Stick to the Status Quo”.

The revival is co-directed by Houston and Whelton, with choreography by Aaron Renfree, set design by Andrew Exeter, sound design by Matt Peploe, video design by George Reeve, lighting design by Rory Beaton, costume design by Sophia Pardon, musical supervision by Katy Richardson, musical direction by Audra Cramer, casting by Pearson Casting, wigs and hair design by Jackie Sweeney and Angie Carradus, make-up design by Dominic Skinner, costume supervision by Laura Rushton and Lisa Aitken, props supervision by Marcus Hall Props, wigs, hair and make up supervision by Jackie Sweeney and Angie Carradus, orchestral management by Rich Morris for Music Solutions Ltd, dialect coaching by Aundrea Fudge, associate set design by Ryan Webster and production management by Ammonite Studios with general management by Chris Harper Productions.

Based on the Disney Channel original movie, High School Musical premiered on stage in 2006 at Stagedoor Manor before its first professional production in Atlanta and a US national tour in 2007. It later received its London premiere at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2008.

High School Musical is produced by Hope Mill Theatre and Chris Harper Productions in association with Lowry and co-produced by Winkler and Smalberg, Catherine Schrieber, Drew and Dane Productions, Kevin and Kate McGrath, Merritt Baer, Marc Levine, Andrei Cotocu for Seabright Live and Michael Watt Productions.

The London run is scheduled to end on 3 January 2027, with tickets on sale below.