High School Musical to return in new production

Exclusive: Hope Mill Theatre and the Lowry are set to stage the first UK non-replica production of Disney’s High School Musical, marking two decades since the film’s original release.

The musical, which features a book by David Simpatico and music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle, will be co-directed by Hope Mill founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton. Full casting and additional creative team members are yet to be announced.

The production will run at the Lowry in Salford from 21 August to 13 September 2026. The venue’s Lyric Theatre will be reconfigured for the production, with an immersive basketball court setting that includes on-stage seating and an extended playing space. The musical will feature songs from the original movie, including “Breaking Free”, “We’re All In This Together”, “Get’cha Head in the Game” and “Stick to the Status Quo”.

First performed in 2006 at Stagedoor Manor Summer Theatre Camp, High School Musical later received a professional staging at the Theatre of Stars in Atlanta and a US national tour by Disney Theatrical in 2007. It had its London debut at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2008 and has since been staged in various regional theatres around the world.

Houston and Whelton said the project has been an ambition for some time, explaining their hopes to “bring together those generations old and new to experience the live spectacle, in a completely fresh and unique way.”

They added: “Having recently created A Christmas Carol and Nine at Lowry, this is the perfect space to be bringing this incredible show back to the stage and to Manchester.”

Matthew Eames, co-head of theatres at the Lowry, said: “Following A Christmas Carol, we are delighted to be working again with Hope Mill Theatre. We all felt there was a real opportunity to build on the success of that show by working together more closely, identifying musical projects that we feel our collective audiences will be excited to experience on our Lyric stage.

“High School Musical is the first of these. It’s a truly iconic show that launched the careers of some huge stars. We can’t wait for the East High Wildcats to come to Salford!

Performances will run Wednesdays to Sundays in the first two weeks, then Tuesdays to Sundays from 8 September, with some exceptions. Tickets start at £26 and are available on general sale from 18 July.