Top Hat is certainly up there with the best of the golden age of movie musicals and the latest stage production doesn’t disappoint.
Based on the 1935 film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the stage adaptation of Top Hat made its UK Premiere in 2011 on tour before transferring into the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End in 2012 for an eighteen month run.
Now, following a summer season at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Top Hat is back on tour in the UK and this week danced into London’s Southbank Centre for a Christmas season of sparklingly witty dialogue, stunning choreography, lavish sets and gorgeous costumes.
A stunning cast
Top Hat features a plethora of beautiful dancers, actors and singers that bring the show to life every night.
Taking to the stage in London are:
- Phillip Attmore (So You Think You Can Dance) Jerry Travers
- Amara Okereke (My Fair Lady) as Dale Tremont
- Clive Carter (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) as Horace Hardwick
- Sally Ann Triplett (Cabaret) as Madge Hardwick
- James Clyde (Matilda the Musical) as Bates
- Alex Gibson-Giorgio (Mamma Mia!) as Alberto Beddini
Supported by a glorious ensemble:
- Lindsay Atherton
- Rhiannon Bacchus
- Jeremy Batt
- Freddie Clements
- Pedro Donoso
- Bethan Downing
- Autumn Draper
- Tilly Ducker
- Laura Hills
- Maddie Harper
- Connor Hughes
- James Hume
- George Lyons
- David McIntosh
- Jordan Oliver
- Emily Ann Potter
- Joe Press
- Molly Rees Howe
- Kirsty Sparks
- Toyan Thomas-Browne
A timeless story
In the story we see Broadway star Jerry Travers flown to London to appear in producer Horace Hardwicks new show spectacular. Jerry falls for Dale Tremont who is staying in the same hotel as him and they start a whirlwind romance. A misunderstanding leads Dale to believe that Jerry is already married and that his intentions aren’t true.
Meanwhile, producer Horace and his wife Madge struggle to celebrate their third wedding anniversary without killing each other. Will the two lovers realise their mistake or will they miss their chance to be together forever?
Irving Berlin’s irresistible score includes some of Hollywood’s greatest songs
With well known classics such as ‘Putting On The Ritz’ and ‘Let’s Face The Music and Dance’ Top hat is one of those shows that you know better than you might think! The show is musically beautiful and visually stunning with dancing that you could watch forever.
- The sublime ‘Cheek to Cheek’
- The iconic ‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’
- The classic that everyone knows ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’
- The ever-so-catchy ‘I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket’
- and my personal favourite ‘You’re Easy to Dance With’
The Creative Team
- Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin
- Adapted for the stage by Matthew White & Howard Jacques
- Director and Choreographer Kathleen Marshall
- Set Designer Peter McKintosh
- Costume Designers Yvonne Milnes and Peter McKintosh
- Musical Supervisor Gareth Valentine
- Musical Director Stephen Ridley
- Orchestrator & Arranger Chris Walker
- Lighting Designer Tim Mitchell
- Sound Designer Paul Groothuis
- Casting Director Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting
- Associate Director & choreographer Carol Lee Meadows
- Associate Director Cameron Wenn
- Associate Set designer Ben Davies
- Associate Lighting designer Imogen Clarke
- Associate Sound designer Rich Pomeroy
- Resident Director & choreographer Richard Pitt
‘I’ve got a great big amount saved up in my love account’ for Top Hat and this production gives it the love and care it deserves. Even housed in the Southbank Centre (which I usually find bad for sound) it fits and sounds perfect.
Playing in London until 17 January 2026 – don’t miss out!
★★★★★
West End Wilma
Further information and full details of the UK tour can be found at tophat-musical.com.
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