Reviewed by Matt Forrest

Opening Night verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Time to dust off the glad rags, have a rummage for your cumberband and get yourself spruced up for the arrival of a Hollywood classic in town: the stage adaptation of Top Hat is here complete with big glitzy show tunes, sumptuous set pieces and a plot that’s as ludicrous as it is fun.

Top Hat began life as a classic 1935 Hollywood film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and is widely regarded as one of the greatest dance musicals ever made. So, it’s staggering to think that it only first made the leap from silver screen to the stage in 2011. In 2025 it was revived by the Chichester Festival Theatre Production team, hitting the road for a nationwide tour in 2026, with one of its final stops at the Lowry.

At its heart, Top Hat is a light-hearted romantic comedy built on mistaken identity and farcical confusion. The story follows Broadway superstar Jerry Travers (Phillip Attmore), who travels to London to star in a new West End show, produced by his good friend, Horace Hardwick (James Hume).

While rehearsing, his enthusiastic late-night tap dancing disturbs a hotel guest staying in the room below, fellow American Dale Tremont (Nicole-Lily Baisden). Despite a frosty first encounter, Travers is bowled over by Miss Tremont, and seeks to woo the new lady in his life. However, as we know the course of true love seldom runs smoothly and  through a series of comedic mix-ups, Dale comes to believe that Jerry is actually his friend Horace, who is married to her good friend Madge (Emma Williams).

Add into the mix a fiery, flamboyant fashion designer, Alberto Beddini (Zac Edwards), a well-meaning if slightly incompetent Butler, Bates (James Clyde) and you have a perfect storm of mirth and mayhem set against a backdrop of glitz and glamour, taking in New York, London and Venice.

This is a lavish and thoroughly entertaining production that transports the audience straight back to the golden age of Hollywood. At times, the plot borders on incredulity, but this is only a minor quibble for a show that offers so much to enjoy. The performances are first-rate: Phillip Attmore and Nicole-Lily Baisden are perfectly cast in their leading roles, sharing a natural chemistry as they glide effortlessly across the stage. Attmore is every inch the charismatic, confident showman, while Baisden shines as a spirited yet emotionally conflicted leading lady.

They are supported by some fine comedic turns: James Hume and Emma Williams make a perfect double act as the mismatched married couple, Hume plays the bumbling British cad, with great comedic timing, whilst Williams is a great foil as his brash, no-nonsense wife. Alex Gibson-Glorgio is gloriously OTT as the eccentric fashion designer, his rendition of the musical number “Latins Know How”, is suitably silly. Whilst James Clyde nearly steals the show as the well-meaning yet incompetent Bates, complete with comedic disguises a plenty.

They are of course helped by some timeless showstoppers from the master Irving Berlin, with such classics as “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” , “Cheek to Cheek”, and throw in an outing “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” for good measure you can’t really go wrong. The highlight for me was spectacular, “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails”, which is packed full of razzmatazz. The band performing these numbers more than match the high-quality song writing, adding a touch of class.

The production looks glorious, exquisite costumes designed by Yvonne Milnes and Peter McKintosh that marry with McKintosh’s stunning art-deco set design, again transporting you to a bygone period and all the troupes you associate with Hollywood musicals of this period.

Sure, the plot is contrived and at times a little ridiculous but that said this is an entertaining night of fine, feel-good musical theatre, that will leave you with a spring in your step and a hankering to get fully dolled up for a night out on the town. 

Top Hat is at Lowry until 4th April. Tickets are available here.