TOP HAT SHEFFIELD REVIEW
THURSDAY 22ND JANUARY 2026 @ 2.30PM
SHEFFIELD LYCEUM THEATRE
⭐⭐⭐.5/5
For a lovely afternoon at the theatre, Top Hat on tour is a trip down memory lane for many. Older folk might remember the movie from back in the day (although it is over 90 years old), whereas us younger folk discovered it much later. It’s quintessential Fred and Ginger, which is hard to replicate. However, it’s always exciting to see a modern production of an older musical, so here’s my Top Hat Sheffield review.
PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS
As I said above, I’ve seen the film plenty of times before, because I love old-school Hollywood movie musicals. Anything Fred and Ginger is a knockout to me, so I was excited to see how a classic was translated onto the stage. I was hoping for a few updates and modernisations without losing the glitz and glamour of the original.
THE CAST
We start with leading man Phillip Attmore, playing Broadway star Jerry Travers. You only have to look at his bio to see that this is 100% his type of role. His natural tap ability is out of this world, and despite having plenty of opportunities to showcase it, I wish there were even more dancing! I felt like his singing wasn’t quite as strong, but I don’t think the songs in Top Hat require much range either.
Our Dale Lemont for the afternoon was Amara Okereke, and she has star quality all over. Her vocals were gorgeous with this score, but I’d love to see her tackle a musical where she can show off more of her range. Her dancing was also a delight, but again, we didn’t get to see it as much as I’d have liked.
James Hume as Horace Hardwick and Kirsty Sparks as his wife, Madge, definitely brought the comedy to the stage. Sparks is first cover for Madge, and having seen her in Hairspray before, she adds so much personality to the role. It’s very random, but Hume gives me Richard Gilmore vibes in this role, just a musical version. Don’t ask, I said it was random!
THE PRODUCTION
You can tell this is a West End transfer because everything is top quality. The costuming is sparkling and shiny, perfect for the era. There are tailored suits, sequinned dresses and tap shoes galore. Sometimes, some productions set in the 1920s and 30s miss the mark with their costumes, but Top Hat smashes it in every single piece.
The set design was very unique, with a swivelling semi-circle platform in the middle of the stage used in just about every scene. It was everything from a hotel bedroom to an Italian scenic backdrop, and smooth transitions between sets meant you barely even noticed it.
The main areas for me that let the show down were the plot and the choreography. In fairness, the plot is very similar to the original movie musical, which hasn’t necessarily travelled that well. Maybe it’s just that it’s a very simple story with very little substance, and I need something a little more defined nowadays. It’s an easy watch, and it leaves you in a good mood, but it’s not a very memorable story.
Now the choreography is amazing in places, it’s just there isn’t enough of it. As a former tapper, I also found some of the steps quite simplistic. Maybe to a non-dancer, the speed made them look difficult, but I’d have loved for the ensemble to have been challenged even more! Just personal preference though!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Is it a groundbreaking musical? No. Is it a fun afternoon or evening out? Absolutely. It’s the nostalgia of years gone by, with classic songs, choreography and costumes. You’re definitely transported back to an older time, an escape from the everyday.
You can catch the tour in various places until mid-April, with dates all here. If you enjoyed my Top Hat Sheffield review, you can find my other theatre reviews here. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok too.
