Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

Ask any millennial how they feel about High School Musical, the world-conquering made-for-Disney Channel teen movie, celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, and their reaction will likely be equal parts misty-eyed and horrified. Nonetheless, there’s clearly big business in nostalgia, as is made blatantly clear with the brand new High School Musical stage production running at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre this autumn. From the set recreation photo opps outside the venue to the stunt casting of a former teen heartthrob (McFly’s Harry Judd) and original supporting cast member (KayCee Stroh) in the adult roles, High School Musical (the musical) is being aimed squarely at millennials who as kids went there, did that, got the t-shirt – and the mug and the stickerbook and the CD and the novelisation of the script, in my case. Cynicism is a natural response, particularly when it comes to a musical best described as ‘Grease, but with Sandy learning to embrace her what makes her special rather than grabbing the nearest packet of cigarettes and skin-tight lycra trousers in an attempt to be accepted’. But as cheesy exercises in nostalgia bait go, the Manchester Hope Mill production of High School Musical is about as impressive as they come. It’s a mammoth undertaking, with an astonishing ensemble, slick choreography by Aaron Renfree, and impressive leads. You can’t watch and not be wowed. For that, the first credit must go to Andrew Exeter. After all, it's his vibrant...