PHOTO FLASH: Jeffrey Archer, Tom Chambers, Kerry Ellis, Jerry Hall, Summer Strallen at Top Hat Opening

The dance musical Top Hat, based on the movie starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, opened at the West End’s Aldwych Theatre on Wednesday, May 9. Matthew White directs, with choreography by Bill Deamer.

With music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and based on the RKO motion picture, the production stars Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen as Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont, with the cast also featuring Martin Ball and Vivien Parry as Horace and Madge Hardwick, Ricardo Afonso as Alberto Beddini and Stephen Boswell as Horace’s valet Bates.

Opening night guests include Fred Astaire’s daughter Ava Astaire Mckenzie and Irving Berlin’s daughters Linda Emmett and Elizabeth Peters. Additional first nighters included Jeffrey Archer, Don Black, Andrew Castle, Kerry Ellis, David Essex, David Haig, Jerry Hall, Laura Haddock, Gloria Hunniford, Gethin Jones, Jessica Kirton, Gillian Lynne, Joseph Millson, Michelle Mone, Bill Paterson, Nicholas Parsons, Neil Pearson, Esther Rantzen, Sandy Strallen, Zizi Strallen, David Soul, Craig Revel Horwood, Joanna Trollope and Michael Winner.

Click here for more information and Top Hat tickets.