Old-school Hollywood glamour dazzled at Norwich's Assembly House as stars of the musical Top Hat enjoyed a special afternoon tea to mark the show's 1,000th performance.
The production - which celebrates 1930s song and dance and brings the tap-dancing magic of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to the stage - will reach the milestone tonight when the show opens its run at Norwich Theatre Royal.
Ahead of the performance some of the cast took time out to celebrate in style. Alan Burkitt and Charlotte Gooch, who play the lead roles of Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont, donned their glamorous stage costumes and were served tea by fellow actor John Conroy, who plays Horace Hardwick's valet Bates.
About the 1,000th show, Charlotte said: 'It's really exciting. The show's gone on such a journey, from its very first tour to the West End where it won lots of awards, and now its next tour. I feel proud to be a part of it.'
Alan added: 'Getting to dance to the iconic music of Irving Berlin and to follow in Fred and Ginger's footsteps is such a highlight, every night recreating such a magical film that people know so well.'
John Conroy is actually a fully trained butler in real life and once served tea to Margaret Thatcher.
He said: 'It was for a Burns Night. She and Denis were guests of honour at a Scottish bank in the City of London. Her politics and mine would be a million miles apart, but as I served the dessert she said, 'don't give me too many strawberries or there won't be enough to go around.'
'They were very pleasant to look after and seemed to have a very good sense of humour.'
The stage show Top Hat is inspired by one of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' most famous films. Jerry, a famous American tap dancer appearing in his first West End show, meets the irresistible Dale and attempts to win her heart. The show features hit songs including Let's Face the Music and Dance and Puttin' On The Ritz. Yesterday's show was the 1000th performance since the production was launched in 2011 at Milton Keynes. Since then it has done a two-year run in London's West End, winning three Olivier awards and an Evening Standard Award. Top Hat was previously at the Theatre Royal in 2011.
Top Hat is at the Theatre Royal until April 11. To book tickets call 01603 630000 or visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
Do you have a Norwich arts story? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk
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