Motown the Musical extends and will welcome new Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye

David Albury and Kayi Ushe will join the production from 4 September 2017 at London's Shaftesbury Theatre

Producers of the West End production of Motown the Musical have announced that the show has extended its booking period through to 5 January 2019 at the Shaftesbury Theatre, as the show celebrates its third year in London and as Motown itself celebrates 60 years since the iconic record company was founded.

In addition, from 4 September 2017, the West End cast will welcome new members David Albury as Smokey Robinson and Kayi Ushe as Marvin Gaye.

The current West End cast includes Cedric Neal as Berry Gordy, Lucy St. Louis as Diana Ross, Obioma Ugoala as Smokey Robinson and Sifiso Mazibuko as Marvin Gaye.

The ensemble includes Cameron Bernard Jones, Ryan Carter, KM Drew Boateng, Samuel Edwards, Dujonna Gift-Simms, Vanessa Fisher, Terique Jarrett, Cleopatra Joseph, Wilson Kiiru, Natasha Leaver, Brandon Lee Sears, Kieran McGinn, Simone Mistry-Palmer, Samuel Nicholas, Brianna Ogunbawo, Matt Overfield, Jay Perry, Timothy Quinlan, Simon Ray Harvey, Sharon Rose, Lawrence Rowe, Ashley Samuels, Carl Spencer, Richard Taylor Woods, Alex Thomas-Smith, Cherelle Williams, Michael Woolston-Thomasand Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli.

Calling all child actors! Motown the Musical is looking for talented youngesters to audition for the roles of Young Michael Jackson, Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder. An Open Audition will be held on Saturday 19 August 2017 at  the Brixton Community Base, Talma Road, London SW2 1AS. Registration will take place at 9.15am.

Motown the Musical opened to generally favourable reviews in the popular press: "The show moves beyond being a welcome nostalgia fest and becomes an urgent rallying cry for us all to rediscover our Motown mojo" (Telegraph); "This show is always enjoyable, if not always the transcendent hit you long for it to be" (The Times). Our reviewer, Mark Shenton, awarded the show four stars, praising the cast: "it is thrilling to see so much exceptional talent on one stage."

Motown The Musical is based on the book 'To Be Loved: The Music, The Magic, The Memories of Motown' by Berry Gordy and features an eighteen piece orchestra that brings to life 50 Motown tracks including "My Girl", "Dancing In The Street", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "I Heard It Through The Grapevine". It is described as a "musical sensation with real soul".

"With just $800 borrowed from his family, Motown founder Berry Gordy, goes from featherweight boxer to heavyweight music mogul, discovering and launching the careers of Diana Ross and the Supremes, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye and many more. Motown the Musical uncovers the story of the legendary record label that changed music history and created the soundtrack of a generation."

The production is directed by Charles Randolph-Wright with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams, scenic design by David Korins, costume design by ESosa, lighting design by Natasha Katz and sound design by Peter Hylenski. The producers are Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris, Berry Gordy and Adam Spiegel.

Motown the Musical tickets are now available to 5 January 2019.