Salford Quays will transform into the magical world of East High this Summer as High School Musical on Stage arrives at The Lowry Theatre.
The show’s four-week residency will begin on 22 August and run until 19 September 2026.
Australian actor and singer Jason Donovan will appear as Coach Bolton exclusively during the show’s run at the Lowry Theatre, before ‘passing the basketball’ to McFly Drummer, Harry Judd, for the London leg at the Wembley Park Theatre from October 2026.
Donovon will star alongside Disney legend KayCee Stroh, who played the ‘popping and locking’ fan favourite Martha Cox in the original High School Musical trilogy and will be making her long-awaited return to the franchise as Ms Darbus for the stage production.
During last night’s launch event at Salford’s Lowry Theatre, Stroh said: “This show holds a special place in my heart, and I will be bringing my whole family to the UK to share our love with your families”
Leading Roles, Troy and Gabriella, will be played by Tobias Turley, winner of ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream and SIX The Musical Performer, Leonor Correia.
Joining them are SIX UK Tour and West End Performer, Caitlin Tipping, and Titanique actor Luke Bayer, who will take on the glamorous twins, Sharpay and Ryan.
Co-directors William Whelton and Joseph Houston of Hope Mill Theatre said they had “Always dreamed of doing a Disney show” and hoped to make it “the Grease of a generation”.
Audiences can expect an exclusive 100 on-stage seats for an immersive theatre experience. Whelton and Houston have also removed the traditional orchestra pit to create an extended runway, as producers are prioritising that the audience is “never too far away”.
The launch event featured a panel interview with producers and cast, and even live performances of hit songs “Breaking Free” and “The Start of Something New” by the leading actors, who perfectly capture Troy and Gabriella’s chemistry- getting the audience excited for what’s to come at The Lowry Theatre.
As someone who has trained in Competitive Dance and Musical Theatre for most of my life, I found the launch event incredibly exciting to watch.
To see the cast perform live and have Jason Donovan sitting two metres in front of me, I was truly starstruck.
Turley and Correia brought an energy to the room that was immediately true to the spirit of High School Musical, perfect casting to say the least!
Tickets are now on sale, with prices starting at £26 with student offers and rising to £76 for the immersive on-stage seating experience. More information is available here.
What team? Wildcats!
