Twenty years after High School Musical turned a Disney Channel film into a global phenomenon, it is perhaps inevitable that the stage version arrives carrying a sizeable backpack of nostalgia. At the Lowry, however, this new production does more than simply dust off the Wildcats’ uniforms. It is big, bright and an often deliriously entertaining 20th birthday gift for Wildcats old and new.

Hope Mill Theatre’s landmark full-scale debut at Lowry’s Lyric Theatre has been transformed into East High, with the audience in on the action every step of the way. We live out the action within the gymnasium: the heart of not only the school but also the epicentre of many a childhood. Within Andrew Exeter’s epic set design, staircases, screens, a jumbotron and on-stage, bleachers-style seating create an environment that feels less like watching a school musical and more like being dropped directly into one. It’s a suitably ambitious setting for a production celebrating a film that has become part of the childhood soundtrack for an entire generation.

Under the guiding directorial hands of Hope Mill’s Joseph Houston and William Whelton, the familiar story remains reassuringly intact: Troy and Gabriella discover a shared passion for singing while navigating school, friendships and the expectations placed upon them. Tobias Turley and Leonor Correia bring warmth and impressive vocal chops to the central couple, resisting the temptation to simply imitate the performances that made Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens household names back in 2006. Their performances feel like affectionate reinterpretations rather than karaoke versions of the originals.

But it is Caitlin Tipping and Luke Bayer as Sharpay and Ryan Evans who repeatedly threaten to steal the show. Real magic bubbles between the pair, most recently seen on stage together as the ‘iconique’ Jack and Rose in the West End production of Titanique. Their timing, physical comedy and sheer commitment make their stage-time eagerly anticipated.

And then there is KayCee Stroh. Returning to the world of High School Musical after appearing in the original films as the pop, lock, jamming and breaking, Martha Cox- Stroh takes on Ms Darbus with formidable comic presence. She knows exactly how much is required from a character this gloriously theatrical and squeezes every possible laugh from the role. It is a joy to see someone with such a direct connection to the original material finding more life within it. On the flipside, Jack Scott- a new addition penned for the stage adaptation- is superbly portrayed by a peppy Curtis Patrick whose commentating transitions the audience from scene to scene in a joyously realised performance, enhanced no end by Tony Award winning George Reeve’s video design.

Aaron Renfree’s choreography supplies some of the production’s biggest thrills. The ensemble attack the musical numbers with infectious energy and, when the entire company comes together, the show demonstrates exactly why this material works so well in a theatre; the spectacle created within this vast space is considerable.

Yet there are moments when the production feels slightly stilted. Some of this is difficult to avoid: Disney’s licensing restrictions inevitably place boundaries around how radically the material can be reinvented. At times, the desire to preserve the High School Musical brand means everything feels just a little too polished, too precise, too perfect- the edges that might give the piece a little more theatrical personality or depth are occasionally smoothed away to a fault, whilst the orchestrations sometimes feel a little small.

Still, when this High School Musical is in full formation, it’s difficult to resist. This is a fresh take on nostalgia with plenty of theatrical muscle behind it: joyous, energetic and performed with such infectious commitment. It may not completely escape the limitations of its Disney packaging (don’t mess with the mouse…), but this is a fresh, inspired adaptation that envelopes its audience in the world of East High. For sure, you’ll be rooting for the Wildcats throughout- but it’s the team at Hope Mill who really get their heads in the game with this slam-dunk of a production.

High School Musical plays at Lowry in Salford until Saturday 19th September before moving to London’s Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Further information and booking details can be found here.

Tickets received in exchange for an honest review. #AD

Photography by Matt Crockett.