'I'm offering you the chance to spread your wings into new horizons," drama teacher Ms Darbus (Karina Hilleard) tells her charges in Disney's High School Musical. The line couldn't be more appropriate. For High School Musical was this year's choice for the New Theatre's Stage Experience, featuring 200 youngsters from across Oxfordshire and beyond, many of them appearing on the stage of a big professional theatre for the first time.

"All very nice for the parents and relations to go and see," you might perhaps be thinking. But no, these Stage Experience shows have got themselves a reputation. Last year's Oxford production of Oliver! broke national box office records, and this year's five performances (the maximum allowed by law) rapidly sold out, with many of the aforementioned families and friends unable to get tickets.

As a bunch of colourful, whirling cheerleaders cavorted with authentic American zest in the opening number The Wildcat Cheer, seemingly endless lines of further performers gradually joined the crowd already on stage. Quickly there was a real buzz about the show. There was an immediate rapport with the packed audience too, a rapport which the forthcoming professional touring version of High School Musical will find it hard to match. It was also evident that director Rodney Howard had achieved miracles in organising his enormous forces into precision dance routines - all on ten days' rehearsal, a fraction of the time normally required. I particularly liked the way that director Howard had spotted those good at mighty leaps or spectacular handstands, and given them mini solo spots.

As this is a Disney show, there is a moral to the tale. Ryan (Howard Grater, suitably smug) and his twin sister Sharpay (Rebecca Jade Hammond, wonderfully egotistical and pouting) think they are bound to land the lead roles in the school Romeo and Juliet. But quietly Troy and Gabriella (very impressive, sensitive performances from David Wilson and Alexandra Demicoli) emerge from the wings. No prizes for guessing who gets the parts.

But above all, this was a great, big, glorious company show. I confess it: as the 200-strong cast rendered the final High School Musical - Megamix, a very large tear welled up in my eye.