Irving Berlin’s Top Hat the Musical opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre last summer to rave reviews and will play at Southampton from Tuesday 7 to Saturday 11 April before transferring to Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where it will play for three weeks.
Based on the classic 1935 RKO movie starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Top Hat is a sparkling romantic cocktail laced with witty comedy, stunning choreography and tap-dancing brilliance, brought to life on stage with lavish sets and gorgeous costumes.
Irving Berlin’s irresistible score includes some of Hollywood’s greatest songs, the immortal Cheek to Cheek, Let’s Face the Music and Dance, Top Hat White Tie and Tails and Puttin’ on the Ritz.
When Broadway star Jerry Travers arrives in London to open a new show, he crosses paths with model Dale Tremont, whose beauty sleep is rudely interrupted by Jerry tap dancing in the hotel suite above hers.
Instantly smitten, Jerry vows to abandon his bachelor life to win her heart – but the path of true love never does run smooth. Especially since Dale has mistaken Jerry for his hapless producer Horace, who’s trying to avoid the wrath of his formidable wife Madge, and Dale’s own fiery Italian admirer is planning a trip to Venice for her to showcase his couture gowns.
Acclaimed American director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall stages this brand-new production. A nine-time Tony nominee and three-time winner for her choreography on the Broadway productions of Wonderful Town, The Pajama Game and Anything Goes, her most recent revival of Anything Goes – which played at London’s Barbican, on a UK tour, and was also televised – received nine Olivier Award nominations in 2022 and Kathleen herself received the award for Best Choreographer. She has worked on more than twenty Broadway shows and she is the first woman to have directed a play, directed a musical and choreographed a musical on Broadway.
With Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin, Top Hat is adapted for the stage by Matthew White and Howard Jacques. Joining Director and Choreographer Kathleen Marshall on the creative team are Set Designer Peter McKintosh, Costume Designers Yvonne Milnes and Peter McKintosh, Musical Supervisor Gareth Valentine, Musical Director Stephen Ridley, Orchestrator and 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 and Choreographer Carol Lee Meadows, Associate Director Cameron Wenn, Associate Set Designer Ben Davies, Associate Lighting Designer Imogen Clarke, Associate Sound Designer Rich Pomeroy, Original Musical Director Stephen Ridley, Musical Director Luke Holman and Resident Director and Choreographer Richard Pitt.
The UK and Ireland tour of Top Hat is produced by Kenny Wax and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions.
Tickets for Top Hat The Musical (Tuesday 7 – Saturday 11 April 2026) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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