Kristen Beth Williams (below) has been announced as the new female lead in West End musical Top Hat. Stateside stage veteran Williams will take over the role of Dale Tremont from Charlotte Gooch from 5 February in the Aldwych Theatre's Fred & Ginger-inspired show.
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| Top Hat Tickets |
Next Available Dates
Performance Times
- Mon
- --
- Tue
- 2.30pm7.30pm
- Wed
- -7.30pm
- Thu
- 2.30pm7.30pm
- Fri
- -7.30pm
- Sat
- 2.30pm7.30pm
- Sun
- --
Booking Period
Show Opened
19th Apr 2012
Book from
21st May 2013 - 26th Apr 2014
Running Time
2 hours 50 minutes
Age Restrictions
Suitable for 5 years and over.
What's it all about?
There’s nothing as feel-good as watching a classic movie – unless it’s watching that movie being brought to life in front of your eyes, complete with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ sensational tap routines and Irving Berlin’s wonderful tunes.
And, for the first time, you can see just that as a stage version of the 1930s screwball comedy Top Hat hits town, following rave reviews and a sold-out national tour.
Including all-time great songs such as ‘Cheek To Cheek’ and ‘Let’s Face The Music And Dance’, this stunning show will lift your spirits as it steals your heart.
What's the story?
You don’t need to have seen the film to fall in love with feisty model Dale Tremont and Jerry Travers, the tap dancer who hot-foots it across Europe to win her heart.
The pair end up in romantic Venice, where Jerry finds there’s a rival for his affections, and misunderstandings and a case of mistaken identity ensue.
Luckily, Jeeves-like butler Bates is on hand to smooth out this winning “will they, won’t they” romance.
Who's in it?
Fleet-footed Fred and gorgeous Ginger caused a box-office stir when Top Hat first came out, but Kristen Beth Williams and Tony and Olivier award nominated Gavin Lee prove every bit as charming a couple – and boy, can they dance.
With so many great tunes on offer you’ll find it hard not to get up and join them. Not only does the show feature ‘Top Hat, White Tie And Tails’ and ‘The Piccolino’ from the film, it also showcases many other Berlin classics, including ‘I’m Putting All My Eggs In One Basket’.
Who is Top Hat suitable for?
With its sumptuous Art Deco sets, ravishing score and breathtaking dance numbers, Top Hat is the ultimate nostalgia-fest for everyone in need of some good old-fashioned Hollywood glamour. So if you feel “they just don’t make ‘em like they used to”, you’ll love this.
But it will also appeal if you’re a Strictly fan, and with expert choreographer Bill Deamer (Love Never Dies, So You Think You Can Dance) overseeing the period routines, even seasoned dance devotees will agree this show can’t put a foot wrong.
Why book with us?
TheatrePeople.com is your online box office for Top Hat tickets, and your one-stop theatre ticket shop for the best seats in the West End. Count on us to provide great service and great discount deals on theatre tickets for all of the plays, comedies and musicals on the London stage. We hope your trip to Top Hat at the Aldwych Theatre is a memorable one, and we look forward to welcoming you to Theatreland.
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Stalls/Dress CircleValid Tuesday to Friday performances until 31 May. |
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Top Hat reviews - 
staff
Top Hat completely blew me away, from the superb dancing, singing and music to the stunning costumes and set. This new musical adaptation of the film will appeal to all ages with its simple but sweet storyline and fantastic cast. The chemistry on stage between Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen is excellent and is backed up by a faultless cast who shine throughout. The show is classic musical theatre at its best, but with a modern day feel. The show has a good pace throughout leaving me wishing it would never end. Worth every penny and is a show you can take the entire family along to.
- Joseph
I liked the story line. The actors were convincing and funny and the dancing was superb. I also think that this show will be interesting for visitors overseas as it is easy to understand.
- Veselina
It was funny, with smart dialogue and great characters. This show is suitable for those particularly interested in stage arts and anyone who just wants to have a fun and entertaining evening. The good news is also that no preparation is needed - the story is easily followed and understood even for those who haven’t seen the movie.
- Victor
Top Hat reviews - critics
"Ridiculously enjoyable"
- The Daily Mail
"Tom Chambers is a phenomenon"
- The Times
"Top hats off to a classy and enjoyable evening"
- The Telegraph
Top Hat reviews - most recent customers
a brilliant show from beginning to end, superb performances from all, could not be faulted, transported me back to sunday afternoons as a child watching the film on an old black & white tv, the improvement was the colour. a true spectacle
-David
It was fabulous. A wonderful cast, great dance routines, humour and stunning costumes. What more can one ask for! So pleased I went before Tom Chambers leaves the cast as he was fantastic!
-Maureen
A stunning show, great music, great dancing and very entertaining Best performance I have seen for a long time!!! Gorgeous - swing and fun!!!
-Guenter
Fantastic
-Margaret
I love old movies and musicals, so I loved the show. Not very big, but nicely done. My boyfriend who 'doesn't like this kind of things' after laughing to tears on Top Hat, asks me constantly when we are to go for musical next time?! Bit too loud sometimes in my opinion. I couldn’t help thinking, that actors were screaming, not singing in some scenes.
-Edyta
Is anything more spine-tingling than hearing the audience murmur drop to a hush and seeing the house lights go down? Can anything beat the thrill of watching the actors emerge from the wings, ready to give the performance of a lifetime?
At TheatrePeople.com we love these moments more than anything, and we want you to enjoy your live theatre experience just as much.
To get you in the mood for your visit to Top Hat, we’ve prepared this gorgeous gallery of images from the show for your perusal and pleasure. It’s a pre-show peek at the West End cast and key elements of the production that’s sure to up your anticipation for the real thing.
These images are from the current production of Top Hat at the Aldwych Theatre. Top Hat is the all-singing all-dancing story of American dancer Jerry Travers, who follows the girl of his dreams, feisty model Dale Tremont across Europe in a bid to win her heart.
Top Hat the film was made by RKO Radio Pictures, and was their most profitable film of the 1930’s costing $620 000 to make and took in $3 million (equivalent of $47m today) upon its initial release.
Top Hat is based on the 1935 Fred and Ginger film of the same name and was adapted for the stage by Matthew White and Howard Jacques, the former of whom also directed the musical, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin.
Top Hat originally premiered at the Milton Keynes Theatre in August 2011, before undertaking a UK wide tour then subsequently transferring to the West End opening in May 2012 at the Aldwych Theatre.
Whether you’ve already booked your seats for Top Hat through us or you’re still making up your mind, we hope this gallery gives you a feeling for the essence of the show. We know where we’d like to be next time the curtain goes up at the Aldwych Theatre. Perhaps we’ll see you there.
Did You Know?
Following in Ginger Rogers’ footsteps can’t be easy, but if anyone can do it, it’s Summer Strallen. In fact you could say it’s in the blood. She comes from a dynasty of stage stars, including her aunt Bonnie Langford and sisters Scarlett (Mary Poppins) and Zizi (Rock of Ages).
Meanwhile Summer’s co-star Tom Chambers had a rather different start in life. He got his big break on Holby City after sending casting directors his recreation of Fred Astaire’s Damsel in Distress drum routine. Check it out on YouTube – it really is impressive.
Clearly all that work paid off, because in this production Tom effortlessly recreates Fred’s hat-rack routine. And that’s not the only homage here – Summer also wears an ostrich-feather dress like the one Ginger wore in the film. Memorably, Astaire wasn’t a fan, saying it looked like “a chicken being attacked by a coyote”. Let’s hope Tom is more of a gent.
A notable fan of the show? Fred Astaire's daughter, Ava Astaire McKenzie, was reported by the Evening Standard to have said: "I think Summer and Tom are so good, I hope it will boost their already successful careers. They deserve it." But she wasn't the only esteemed offspring to endorse the stage adaptation - Irving Berlin's daughter Linda Emmett called it a "beautiful production" and hoped it would "give new life to these songs and to Top Hat for a younger generation".
Top Hat songs
Latest News
- Posted By
- TheatrePeople.com Staff
- On
- 8th Jan 2013
Theatre NewsGavin Lee Waltzes Into Starring Role In Top Hat
- Posted By
- TheatrePeople.com Staff
- On
- 7th Nov 2012
- Posted By
- TheatrePeople.com Staff
- On
- 9th May 2012
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