Birmingham Hippodrome – until 7th March 2026
Reviewed by Emma Millward
5*****
Top Hat The Musical sashayed into Birmingham Hippodrome this week, bringing Hollywood glitz and glamour. Based on the classic 1935 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film and adapted for the stage by Matthew White and Howard Jacques, the show first premiered in 2011 in Milton Keynes. This revival production opened at Chichester Festival Theatre in July 2025 with direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall.
When a show starts big and bold with ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ as its opening number, you know you are in for a treat. We meet Broadway star Jerry Travers (Phillip Attmore), who is about to star in a new show in London. He inadvertently meets Dale Tremont (Amara Okereke) when he wakes her up with his tap dancing. What follows is a whirlwind of comic mishaps, dancing and mistaken identity.
Phillip Attmore’s Jerry is charismatic and suave, while Amara Okereke brings a sassy warmth to Dale. Their natural chemistry is apparent from their first scene together, and their dance sequences are exquisite. The supporting cast adds hilarious energy to the show. Horace Hardwick (James Hume) and his wife Madge (Emma Williams) are central to the increasingly farcical confusion as Dale mistakenly thinks Jerry is actually married to Madge. Both provide many witty, playful exchanges. James Hume showcases his great comedic timing during the scene where he is trying to hide under a bed. Alex Gibson-Giorgio shines as Alberto Beddini, an Italian fashion designer who longs to be with Dale. His over-the-top accent and mannerisms may teeter close to becoming a caricature, but Gibson-Giorgio makes him incredibly likeable. James Clyde as Bates, Horace’s valet, almost steals the whole show with his deadpan delivery of nonsensical metaphors and his many disguises including an ‘ageing but not unattractive dowager duchess’.
The production is brimming with Irving Berlin’s music and lyrics. Classics such as “Cheek to Cheek” and “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” are met with audible sighs of recognition and appreciation from the audience. The dancing throughout the production is a true highlight. Tap routines pulse with precision and energy, while sweeping ballroom sequences allow the couples to glide and spin around the huge Hippodrome stage. Yvonne Milnes and Peter McKintosh’s costume design is lavish and often pays homage to outfits from the film, such as the silver feathered gown that Dale wears. Peter McKintosh’s clever Art-Deco half-moon revolving set allows for seamless scene changes, swiftly transporting the audience from a London hotel to the canals of Venice. Tim Mitchell’s lighting design further enhances each scene, with the skyline lighting being especially beautiful.
From the moment the curtain goes up, the audience is transported back in time to a more sophisticated era full of charm, romance and impeccable style. Top Hat The Musical is a joyous celebration of the golden age of musical theatre, delivering a timeless, unforgettable evening of entertainment.