CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE UK AND
IRELAND TOUR
“MOTOWN THE MUSICAL”
Visiting Theatre Royal Nottingham
23 April – 4 May 2019
The producers of “MOTOWN THE MUSICAL” are delighted to announce the cast for the UK and
Ireland tour. Edward Baruwa will play the leading role of ‘Berry Gordy’, Karis Anderson will play
‘Diana Ross’, Nathan Lewis will play ‘Smokey Robinson’ and Shak Gabbidon-Williams will play
‘Marvin Gaye’.
The production will open at the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre on 11 October 2018 and will then tour
across the UK until autumn 2019, visiting the Theatre Royal Nottingham from Tuesday 23 April to
Saturday 4 May 2019. Full tour dates below.
Edward Baruwa’s previous credits include the West End productions of “Motown the Musical” at The
Shaftesbury Theatre, “Les Misérables” at the Queen’s Theatre, “Five Guys Named Moe” at the Marble
Arch Theatre and the UK Tour of “Sister Act”.
Karis Anderson is best known as being one third of pop band ‘Stooshe’ who celebrated a top five
single ‘Black Heart’ in 2012 for which they received a nomination for Best British Single at the 2013
Brit Awards.
Nathan Lewis was a finalist on ITV’s The X Factor in 2016 as part of boyband ‘Five After Midnight’.
Nathan makes his stage debut as ‘Smokey Robinson’.
Shak Gabbidon-William’s previous credits include ‘Young Simba’ in “The Lion King” in the West End
and most recently starred as ‘Seaweed’ in the UK tour of “Hairspray”.
The ensemble includes, Dayo Adeoye, Scott Armstrong, Simeon Beckett, Natalia Brown, Ethan
Davis, Andrew Dillon, Akeem Ellis-Hyman, Christopher Gopaul, Daniel Haswell, Olivia Hibbert,
Karis Jack, Michael Jeremiah, Amana Jones, Abz Kareem, Kane Matthews, DeeArna McClean,
Matt Mills, Cordell Mosteller, Nicole Nyarambi, Spencer O’Brien, Perry O’Dea, Alex Okoampa,
Reece Richards and Emma Robotham-Hunt
Charles Randolph-Wright, Director of “Motown the Musical” said,
“I am so thrilled that we have been able to find this incredible cast of British artists for the UK
tour of Motown the Musical. Their talent has astounded us all, as they embody the soul of
Motown and capture the energy and essence of those iconic artists. We are so excited to bring
this show to cities across the UK and can’t wait to begin. Get ready!
With music and lyrics from the Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy,
Charles Randolph-Wright’s production features a live orchestra playing 50 Motown tracks including
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There, Dancing In The Street, Stop! In The Name Of Love, My
Girl and I Heard It through the Grapevine and tells the story behind the classic hits.
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, Michael Jackson,
Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many more. Motown the Musical uncovers the
true story of the legendary record label that changed music history and created the soundtrack of a
generation.
Tony nominated “Motown the Musical” received its world premiere in April 2013 in New York and
recouped its $18 million investment by the end of 2014. The first US National Tour opened to critical
acclaim in Spring 2014 in Chicago, grossing $20 million dollars during its standing room only sixteen-
week run.
The London production of “Motown the Musical” opened on 11 February 2016. The production
continues to play to standing ovations at the Shaftesbury Theatre where it is half way through its third
year and is booking until April 2019.
“Motown the Musical” has music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Ethan Popp, co-
orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Cook, dance arrangements by Zane Mark.
Choreography is by Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams, scenic design by David Korins, costumes
by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Peter Hylenski, video by Daniel
Brodie and Wig design by Charles Lapointe. “Motown the Musical” is produced in the UK
by Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris, Adam Spiegel and Berry Gordy.
The original Broadway cast recording of “Motown the Musical” is available via Motown Records, a
label of UMG Recordings – www.classicmotown.com
For further press information on the UK and Ireland tour of Motown the Musical please contact
Simon Raw or Stacey Pedder at Raw PR on
simon@rawpr.co.uk/stacey@rawpr.co.uk or 020 3829 0930
For further press information on the London production of Motown the Musical please contact
Janie Shalom at the Premier Theatre Department on
janine.shalom@premiercomms.com or 020 7292 8330
For further press information on the Nottingham tour dates please contact
Lucy Thomas at the Theatre Royal Nottingham press office
Lucy.thomas@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or 0115 989 5537
“Motown the Musical” images and trailer available for media to download here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xgnnzufinyrkmjg/AACrwlM3T8txo6ZccLfNGlxMa?dl=0
LOCAL LISTINGS INFORMATION:
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL
Theatre Royal Nottingham
Tuesday 23 April – Saturday 4 May 2019
Week one: Tue-Sat evenings 7.30pm, Wed & Thu matinee 2pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm
Week two: Mon-Sat evenings 7.30pm, Wed matinee 2pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm
£57.50 – £15 plus discounts for Royal Members*, Under 16s, 16-25 year olds, and Groups
www.trch.co.uk
Box Office: 0115 989 5555
*Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham Royal Membership scheme offering ticket discounts,
exclusive pre-sales, meet the cast nights and more www.trch.co.uk/membership
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL – UK and Ireland tour 2018/2019
11 OCTOBER – 3 NOVEMBER 2018
BIRMINGHAM ALEXANDRA THEATRE
ATGTICKETS.COM/Birmingham – 0844 871 3011
6 – 17 NOVEMBER 2018
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
leedsgrandtheatre.com – 0844 848 2700
20 NOVEMBER – 8 DECEMBER 2018
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
ATGTICKETS.COM/Edinburgh – 0844 871 3014
10 JANUARY – 2 FEBRUARY 2019
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
ATGTICKETS.COM/Bristol – 0844 871 3012
5 – 23 FEBRUARY 2019
BORD GAIS ENERGY THEATRE DUBLIN
bordgaisenergytheatre.ie – +353 1 677 7999
26 FEBRUARY – 23 MARCH 2019
MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE
ATGTICKETS.COM/Manchester – 0844 871 3018
26 MARCH – 6 APRIL 2019
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF
wmc.org.uk – 02920 63 64 64
23 April – 4 May 2019
THEATRE ROYAL NOTTINGHAM
Trch.co.uk 0115 989 5555
6 – 22 JUNE 2019
NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL
www.theatreroyal.co.uk – 08448 11 21 21
3 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2019
THE MARLOWE CANTERBURY
marlowetheatre.com – 01227 787787
1 – 12 OCTOBER 2019
MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON
Mayflower.org.uk – 02380 711 811
