High School Musical

The review of RoseWood’s Sister Act in 2025 ended with my takeaway memory being “young people enjoying performing in a successful stage musical”. This year’s production of High School Musical demonstrated RoseWood’s consistency in providing young performers with an outlet for their energy and enthusiasm, and audiences with a polished entertainment.

On arrival at the Masque Theatre, we were met with an appropriately themed front of house (including, proudly displayed, RoseWood’s 2025 Noda ‘Best Youth Production’ trophy), a general buzz of pre-show anticipation and a warm welcome from the show’s director Annie, who also found time to see us after the performance.

The production

Rosewood’s founders Alice Benstead and Annie Woodford are clearly the driving force behind the group, and should take great satisfaction, not only for the quality of this show but also for bringing an almost 50-strong team of young performers on the production’s journey. Annie (Director) and Alice (Choreographer), with the support of a production team including Musical Director Ellis Barthorpe, and Direction and Choreography assistants Sian Williams, Gareth Bradwick & Ella Matthews, gave us a bright, attractive and entertaining presentation of High School Musical. Choreography is an essential element of most musicals, and this fast-moving and visually pleasing entertainment, with movement skilfully tailored to a wide range of cast ages and stage experience, was a significant achievement of the production. An attractive and informative show programme provided useful information on the production and the company.

Staging & orchestration

The Masque theatre stage was well used by the large cast, with little evidence of crowding. Stage Manager Jon Aldwinkle’s uncomplicated and effective set design enabled maximum use of the floor space available. Such scene changes as were necessary were carried out in blackout with mostly minimal delays. Scenes were sensitively lit, and Sound nicely balanced. The show’s music was well controlled under MD Ellis Barthorpe and songs, both individual and ensemble, delivered with enthusiasm and well-rehearsed precision. The attractive picture was enhanced by the large number of appropriate and well-coordinated costumes, managed by Head of Wardrobe Rebecca Cripps.

The show

High School Musical’s familiar story of young people dealing with the conflicting pressures of sport, theatre and schoolwork, gives an identifiable theme for young entertainers to display their skills. In this production the cast of 47 performers aged from 5 to 25 portrayed the story clearly and with evident enjoyment.

Leading figures in the unfolding tale are Brainiac Gabriella and School Basketball Captain Troy who form a warm friendship and discover a mutual love of singing. Their diverse interests present conflicts with school thespian and sports teachers and rivalries with fellow auditionees for a school production. The flow of the story’s narrative allows plenty of room for attractive musical numbers, colourful and well-drilled movement and dramatic characterisations.

As Gabriella, Hope McGill was a delight, performing the role with pleasing confidence, a strong singing voice and a lovely smile. Hope was well-partnered by Troy, played with a relaxed warmth and maturity by Santiago Areias Grilo, also with well-delivered vocals. The quality of their voices was well illustrated in their nice duet Start of Something New.

Gabriella and Troy’s main rivals for lead parts in the school production are Sharpay (convincingly played by Betsy Somerville, with a natural hostility and self-assurance, while allowing her ’softer side’ eventually to win through) and Sharpay’s long-suffering brother Ryan (played with typical younger-brother tolerance by Logan Hawkey).

Strong support in this production came from Gabriella’s fellow Brainiacs Martha (Jess Deacon), Taylor (Molly Barthorpe) and Kratnoff (Eloise Loake), and from Troy’s Teammates Zeke (William McMillan), Chad (Toby Harris) and Jason (George McGowan, also playing skater Ripper). A particularly enjoyable performance, also, from Mia Stone in the role of Kelsi, the drama club’s pianist and composer of the winter musical, who performed the role with impressive stage presence.

Other important supporting roles included Isla Meldrum as skater Mongo; Kyla Holt as a very enthusiastic school radio reporter Jack Scott; Lillie Ford as the determined and impatient drama teacher Ms Darbus, Fred Woodford as the ambitious Coach Bolton, and Grace Chapman as chemistry teacher (& Gabriella mentor) Ms Tenny.

A major feature of this production was the company’s strength in depth. The large cast, named principal parts, principal dancers and singers, junior dancers and senior and junior ensemble performers, all contributed vocally, visually, energetically and entertainingly in the production. Most importantly, from the youngest upwards they obviously enjoyed being part of a hardworking and successful  team, clearly believing in  their enthusiastically delivered finale: “We’re all in this Together”!

My wife and I enjoyed our visit and appreciated having a couple of chats with Annie. We look forward to the next RoseWood production.

Colin Blackler

Noda                                                                                                                                    August 2026

 

© NODA CIO.  All rights reserved 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.