Top Hat
From the moment the curtain rises on Top Hat, the audience is swept into a world of effortless glamour, wit and dazzling dance. Adapted from the beloved 1935 film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, this stage version captures the elegance of Hollywood’s golden age while bringing its own theatrical sparkle. With a score of timeless songs by Irving Berlin and a story built on romance and mistaken identity, Top Hat promises an evening of pure escapism—and absolutely delivers.
When Broadway star Jerry Travers (Phillip Attmore) arrives in London to open a new show, he falls for the stylish Dale Tremont (Amara Okereke) after a chance meeting at his hotel. However, a case of mistaken identity leads Dale to believe Jerry is a married man, prompting her to flee to Venice. Determined to win her over, Jerry follows—sparking a series of comic misunderstandings involving friends, disguises and romantic rivals.
This show is nothing short of a triumphant celebration of musical theatre at its most glamorous and joyous. From the opening tap of Phillip Attmore’s impeccably controlled feet to Amara Okereke’s radiant portrayal of the ever-beguiling Dale Tremont, the chemistry between the leads was electric and wholly convincing. Attmore’s Jerry Travers was charismatic and technically superb, marrying effortless charm with jaw-dropping tap precision, while Okereke brought wit, warmth and vocal polish that lit up every scene she graced. Supported by a fantastic ensemble — including the smooth comic turns of James Hume’s Horace Hardwick, the mischievous flair of Alex Gibson-Giorgio’s Alberto Beddini and the scene-stealing sophistication of Emma Williams as Madge Hardwick — the company delivered an evening of razor-sharp choreography, exquisite period design and unadulterated musical joy.
The score of Top Hat, featuring timeless songs by Irving Berlin, remains one of the production’s greatest delights, brimming with elegance, wit and golden-age glamour. Numbers such as “Cheek to Cheek” and “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” shimmer with romance, but it is Amara Okereke who truly makes them soar. Her voice is rich, warm and effortlessly expressive, gliding through Berlin’s melodies with both power and delicacy. Okereke brings a luminous quality to the score, delivering each lyric with clarity and charm, and transforming the show’s most famous songs into moments of genuine theatrical magic.
As you can probably tell I was totally blown away by this show. It was a glowingly entertaining night of theatre that reminded us why golden-age classics endure and why I’m always won over by an incredible tap routine! It truly is a timeless musical that sweeps you off your feet. A toe-tapping treat!
This show was reviewed at Birmingham Hippodrome on the 3rd March 2026 where it runs until the 7th March 2026. Tickets available here: Top Hat – Birmingham Hippodrome
Full tour dates here: Top Hat The Musical | Official Tickets
Review written by Emma Rowley
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Photo credit: Johan Persson
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