Jason Donovan soaring, flying into High School Musical production

Australian actor Jason Donovan will be playing Coach Bolton as he joins the cast of the High School Musical production in Salford later this year.

The former Neighbours star, 57, is joining the theatrical production based on the 2000s Disney film franchise starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, for its run at the Lyric Theatre at Lowry.

The production will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first High School Musical film and will transform the theatre into an immersive basketball court to bring the audience into the world of East High School.

The original 2006 film, directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega, saw basketball superstar Troy Bolton discover his shared passion for singing with shy academic Gabriella Montez, with the pair snagging the lead roles in their school musical and inspiring their classmates to break the “status quo”.

The American film became a cultural phenomenon, and starred Efron as Troy and Hudgens as Gabriella, with Ashley Tisdale playing jealous drama queen Sharpay Evans and Lucas Grabeel as her twin brother Ryan.

Its global success led to multiple sequels and spin-offs, along with a TV series titled High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, which rocketed pop star Olivia Rodrigo to fame.

Donovan will star in the production as Troy’s father and the coach and mentor of the school’s basketball team, the East High Wildcats.

Speaking of his new role, the actor and singer said: “High School Musical was such a massive part of my kids’ early childhood.

“As a parent and as a musical fan the film was family entertainment at its best. Magical. Loved it.

“Popular culture has a cycle and I’m delighted to be joining this new reimagined High School Musical theatrical experience 20 years on from when I first discovered the film. Looking forward to seeing all in Salford.”

Donovan will join the production for its four-week run at the North West theatre later this year, appearing onstage as Coach Bolton until Friday September 18.

He rose to fame on Australian soap opera Neighbours as heartthrob Scott Robinson, and has since embarked on a successful music career that has landed him four UK number one singles.

Donovan, known for hits including Especially For You and Too Many Broken Hearts, has also had a successful theatre career and has appeared in UK reality TV shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.

He will star alongside actors Tobias Turley, Leonor Correia, Caitlin Tipping and Luke Bayer who play Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and Ryan, respectively.

The hit musical, known for songs including Breaking Free, We’re All In This Together and Get’cha Head In The Game, made its world premiere onstage in New York in 2006.

It was later staged professionally, and embarked on a national tour across the US, Canada and Latin America before making its London premiere at the Hammersmith Apollo Theatre in 2008.

High School Musical – written by David Simpatico, with music by Bryan Louiselle and co-directed by Joseph Houston and William Whelton – will open at the Lyric Theatre at Lowry on August 22 and run until September 19.