High School Musical revival – take a sneak peek at the set designs for Salford and London

Exclusive: Take a sneak peek at the set designs for both the Salford and Wembley productions of Disney’s High School Musical!

The revival, presented by Hope Mill Theatre and Chris Harper Productions, marks the first UK non-replica staging of the musical. It will premiere this summer at the Lowry in Salford (from 22 August to 19 September), before opening at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre (12 October to 3 January 2027, with a press night set for 20 October).

Set designer Andrew Exeter reveals his insights into the scenic creations and configurations for both stagings, including onstage seating and nostalgic iconography.

“The design world for this anniversary production of High School Musical has been re-imagined and centred around the two leading school subjects in the film: theatre and basketball,” Exeter commented. “Our ‘basketball court’ is much more like a basketball court ‘set piece’ within the theatre at East High, and – through set, video and light – will morph from location to iconic moments in what makes this production a definitive stage musical rather than a film, with theatre-making at the heart of its magic. As well as our whole creative team, I’m incredibly excited to be working alongside video designer George Reeve and lighting designer Rory Beaton to explore how we can use these tools to blend the worlds of the story into a sort of seamless Disney-magic space where the expectations of our ‘basketball court’ can explode into each venue.”

“In 2006, High School Musical spoke to a generation about acceptance and going against the status quo,” he added. “So our space is going to feel like somewhere that encompasses that energy. Bringing an audience on stage super up-close to the action, we allow for an environment where audiences can connect to the characters closer than they ever could before and realise why it’s so important to be the person who doesn’t think or follow like everyone else, particularly in both these unique spaces: within the warm hug of the Lowry’s auditorium and Wembley Troubadour’s iconic tv studio backdrop.”

“It’s really exciting to be able to give the audience an insight into the design development process by sharing these concepts at this stage,” Exeter concluded. “My teams of 3D modellers and illustrators who worked with me on these digital 3D renders are brilliant and utilised the capabilities within Google SketchUp and lighting visualisation software Capture to develop these renders, giving us insight into what it’s like to integrate lighting and video into a fly round the venue, well before we install the design in the summer. I can’t wait to let audiences into our East High: nostalgic to a generation who grew up with it and refreshed for a generation who are yet to discover it.”

The cast is led by Tobias Turley, Leonor Correia, Caitlin Tipping and Luke Bayer as Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and Ryan, respectively.

They are joined by KayCee Stroh as Ms Darbus, while the role of Coach Bolton will be played by Jason Donovan in Salford and Harry Judd in London.

Char Burnett will play Taylor McKessie, with Jordan Benjamin as Chad Danforth, Simeon Beckett as Zeke Baylor, Olivia O’Connor as Martha Cox, Yna Tresvalles as Kelsi Nielson and Curtis Patrick as Jack Scott.

The cast is completed by 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 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 production is co-directed by Joseph Houston and William 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.

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.

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.