Summer Strallen and Tom Chambers are to dance their way into London next year when musical comedy Top Hat transfers to the Aldywch theatre following a UK tour.
Adapted from the 1935 Academy Award-nominated film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Top Hat will play from 19 April (press night 9 May) with a cast of 31 accompanied by a live band.
Featuring a host of well known songs by Irving Berlin including Cheek To Cheek, Top Hat White Tie And Tails and Let’s Face The Music And Dance, the musical centres on the love story between famous tap dancer Jerry Travers (Chambers) and feisty Dale Tremont (Strallen).
When Travers arrives in London to make his West End debut, he meets the irresistible Tremont, the girl of his dreams. To win her heart he travels across Europe but must overcome a variety of comical obstacles on the way.
In a case of life imitating art, Chambers will make his West End debut in the musical. The Holby City actor revealed his dance talent in 2008 when he wowed audiences on the BBC talent contest Strictly Come Dancing. As an actor he has also appeared in Waterloo Road and has theatre credits at the Young Vic and Lyric Hammersmith.
Strallen is no stranger to the West End stage having most recently appeared in Love Never Dies at the Adelphi theatre. The thrice Olivier Award-nominated actress’s other theatre credits include starring roles in The Sound Of Music at the London Palladium, The Drowsy Chaperone at the Novello and The Boyfriend at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
Strallen and Chambers are joined in the production by West End regulars Martin Ball (Les Misérables), Vivien Parry (Mamma Mia!), Ricardo Afonso (We Will Rock You), and Stephen Boswell.
Top Hat is directed by Matthew White, the man behind Menier Chocolate Factory hit musicals Sweet Charity and Little Shop Of Horrors, both of which transferred into the West End, and the production features a set designed by 2011 Olivier Award-winner Hildegard Bechtler.
Top Hat is currently booking until 26 January 2013.
CM