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Dapper Keith Urban arrives to support wife Nicole Kidman at star-studded Photograph 51 opening night as she returns to West End after 17 years

Published: 14:42 EST, 14 September 2015 | Updated: 17:44 EST, 14 September 2015

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She made a triumphant comeback to the West End stage for the first time in 17 years earlier this month with a round of well-received preview shows.

But Nicole Kidman needed some extra support as she faced the critics at a star-studded official opening for her new play Photograph 51 on Monday evening.

The Hollywood superstar's husband, country rocker Keith Urban, was one of the first guests to arrive to see his wife's turn in the production at the Noel Coward Theatre.

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Proud: Country rocker Keith Urban was one of the first guests to arrive to see his wife Nicole Kidman perform in the opening night of Photograph 51 in London's West End on Monday night

The Aussie musician looked dapper in a black suit and matching skinny tie as he made his way into watch the much-discussed show.

And while she faced the angst of the first reviews from the press, Oscar-winner Nicole had support from a host of famous faces.

Among the VIP guests invited to the grand opening were Sir Kenneth Branagh, funnywoman Dawn French and theatre impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh.

Downton Abbey stars Elizabeth McGovern and Laura Carmichael were also in the audience, as were McBusted rocker Tom Fletcher and his pregnant wife Flavia.

The Aussie musician looked dapper in a black suit and matching skinny tie as he made his way into watch the much-discussed show

On hand: Keith was there to support his wife as she faced the press for her performance in the show

Big role: Kidman portrays British scientist Rosalind Franklin in the Anna Ziegler show, which marks her first return to the London stage in 17 years

Surefire hit: Kidman opened preview shows with a standing ovation as the curtain went up for the first time last weekend

Kidman opened preview shows with a standing ovation as the curtain went up for the first time last weekend.

She portrays British scientist Rosalind Franklin in the Anna Ziegler show.

Following the well-received first showing, many audience members took to Twitter to gush about Nicole's stunning performance..

One user tweeted: 'Brilliant performance by Nicole Kidman on her opening night on stage at the Noel Coward Theatre. #Photograph51', while another wrote: 'As a PhD student in chemistry and crystallography at Oxford, #Photograph51 was a phenomenal! @NicoleKidman was superb! #Inspired'.

By his side: David Walliams stepped out in public for the first time since his divroce from Lara Stone at the event, accompanied by his beloved mum Kathleen

Revered: Thespian Sir Kenneth Branagh attended the press night, as did theatre impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh

Hey lady: Downton Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern was also among the VIP crowd who flocked to the Noel Coward Theatre to see Kidman's performance

Reunion: Elizabeth caught up with her on-screen daughter Laura Carmichael, who looked a lot edgier that her straight-laced character

Funny girl: Dawn French was all smiles as she showed off her slimmed down figure in a bold patterned dress

Date night: Diver Tom Daly and his screenwriter boyfriend Dustin Lance Black looked smart for their night at the theatre

Parents-to-be: McBusted star Tom Fletcher and his wife Flavia - who is expecting their second child - enjoyed a rare night out

Grand dames: Acting veterans Maureen Lipman and Anita Dobson looked glam for the big opening night

Not such a bad guy: Actor Andrew Scott, who plays villainous Moriarty in Sherlock, also arrived to see the production

Photograph 51 is the name given to an x-ray image taken by a researcher at King's College London, which revealed the double-helix shape of DNA.

It was a crucial starting point for research by Francis Crick and James Watson, who identified how DNA was structured.

Seemingly a role close to her heart, Nicole revealed to Dailymail.com earlier this year that she had discussed the role with her dad Dr Antony, who was a biochemist, before he died, saying: 'When I told him I was thinking about doing it, he was very excited.

'Then my dad passed away last September. I went: "All right, I need to do this for my father."'

Nicole, who wowed West End audiences back in 1998 with her performance in David Hare's The Blue Room, added there were other factors which attracted her to the role when she saw the script for the first time last year: ‘It's written by a woman, and it’s about a woman that a lot of women don’t know about.

'And I need to do it because I've got to get back on stage, into that uncomfortable place of going, "I'm terrified!"'