Everything you need to know about 'High School Musical'

The stage version of the iconic Disney movie is coming to London's Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, starring Harry Judd.

Summary

• High School Musical is coming to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
• The stage show is based on the hit Disney movie
• Harry Judd stars as Coach Bolton and Tobias Turley is Troy
• The show features all the beloved movie songs and some new ones

We’re all in this together! Yes, class is in session as the one and only High School Musical come to London’s Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. This is the first UK non-replica production, so expect an exciting new staging – possibly of the immersive basketball court variety – as we get our heads in the game.

Leading the cast of this hugely anticipated production is Harry Judd as Coach Bolton, and the musical will of course feature all the classic songs from the fan-favourite Disney movie. As you prepare to break free, learn all about High School Musical on stage.

Book High School Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

What is High School Musical about?

High School Musical centres on teenagers Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, who meet on vacation. Gabriella then becomes a student at Troy’s East High School, where he is the popular captain of the basketball team, while she soon falls in with scholastic competitors the Brainiacs. But the pair reunite when they audition for the school musical, written by budding composer Kelsi.

That throws the established order into disarray. Troy’s Wildcats teammates and his coach – who is also his dad – urge him to quit singing, and Gabriella's Brainiac friends do the same to her. Meanwhile Sharpay Evans and her brother Ryan are furious that the loved-up couple have outshone them in drama club. Happily, the school community eventually reunites to bring Troy and Gabriella back together, and the barriers between the various cliques are broken down.

Who wrote High School Musical?

High School Musical is based on the hit 2006 Disney film of the same name, written by Peter Barsocchini and directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega, and starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. The stage version has a book by David Simpatico, and music and lyrics by a number of talented artists: Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil, Ray and Greg Cham, Drew Seeley, Randy Petersen, Kevin Quinn, Andy Dodd, Adam Watts, Bryan Louiselle, David N. Lawrence, Faye Greenberg, and Jamie Houston.

High School Musical had a Broadway workshop in 2006 and then embarked on a US tour from 2007-8. It has since been incredibly popular with youth theatres and school groups in numerous countries.

Who are the characters in High School Musical?

The characters in High School Musical include:

• Troy Bolton: captain of the basketball team, but who also has a passion for performing.
• Gabriella Montez: the intelligent new girl at East High who wins Troy’s heart.
• Sharpay Evans: president of the drama club and used to being the star of the show.
• Ryan Evans: Sharpay’s brother and ally, also used to the limelight.
• Kelsi Nielsen: a shy pianist and budding composer.
• Chad Danforth: Troy’s best friend and fellow basketball player.
• Taylor McKessie: head of the Brainiacs, who scouts Gabriella for her team.
• Coach Bolton: the coach of the basketball team – and Troy’s dad.
• Ms Darbus: the drama teacher, and an avowed hater of jocks.

Where is High School Musical playing?

The show is playing at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre on Fulton Road, in north-west London. The theatre has a seating capacity of around 1,000-2,000 depending on configuration.

When is High School Musical playing?

High School Musical is booking from 12 October 2026 to 3 January 2027. Performances take place from Monday to Saturday at 7:30pm through October, then Wednesday to Sunday at 7:30pm, with matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm.

How long is High School Musical?

The running time of the show is to be confirmed.

Who is in the cast of High School Musical?

High School Musical stars Harry Judd as Coach Bolton. Judd rose to fame in the band McFly and won the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing. Playing Troy is Tobias Turley, winner of ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream, whose credits also include Hot Mess and Heathers The Musical, and the cast also features Leonor Correia (SIX), Luke Bayer (Titanique), Caitlin Tipping (SIX), and KayCee Stroh, who played Martha Cox in the High School Musical movie and now plays Ms Darbus.

Who is in the creative team of High School Musical?

The production is co-directed by Hope Mill Theatre founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton (Young Frankenstein), with music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle (The Jungle Books), choreography by Aaron Renfree (Eugenius! The Musical), set design by Andrew Exeter (Millenials), and costume design by Sophia Pardon (Midnight Cowboy).

What are some fun facts about High School Musical?

• The creator Peter Barsocchini based the story on his own experience of playing basketball in high school, and a teammate confessing to him that he dreamed of being a ballet dancer. This evolved into a musical theatre performer in High School Musical – which he wrote partly as the kind of film his nine-year-old daughter (Gabriella!) might enjoy.

• High School Musical was so popular that it sparked an entire franchise. The soundtrack hit number one on the Billboard 200, and there were two film sequels, plus spin-off Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, and TV series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. There was also a live concert version as well as the stage musical.

• The stage show features all the beloved movie songs – as well as some new ones. Watch out for numbers like “Cellular Fusion”, in which Troy and Gabriella’s friends spread the news of their audition via their cell phones, and “Counting On You”, where Troy is tricked by his teammates into saying he doesn’t really like Gabriella.

• Lots of the High School Musical productions have ingeniously incorporated basketball into the choreography, as it’s such a core part of the story – and it can lead to some exciting, explosive movement. It’s also a challenge as the performers have to become quadruple threats: coordinating singing, dancing, acting, and ball handling!

Main photo credit: Harry Judd (Photo by Matt Crockett). Inset: High School Musical movie (Photos courtesy of the movie)