Motown (Shaftesbury Theatre)

As this show was coming to the end of its time on the West End stage, I decided it was time to see it. It was on my very long list of what to watch and felt I'd regret not seeing it after reading the vast amount of stunning reviews, and I was not left disappointed! If you still have time to see this show I highly suggest investing as it's one you don't want to miss.

I was critical when going in to watching this show as I was wondering how they would create a story woven in to the subject of Motown music?? But after watching how cleverly it was intertwined with the glitz and glam of Motown genre throughout the years I could see why it was important to tell the story within the music. The flashback story starts with a young Berry Gordy (creator of Motown) and how he came about to start his record label, his story is very prominent in this show as 1. he is the protagonist (duh) and 2. his journey has the message to give to all people on what they don't know what to do with their lives, to keep trying, don't give up and don't stick to just one thing to try and find what you're meant for. The story then skips to 1957, where Gordy sets up his new label 'Motown' and sees how he creates relationships with such now famous names as Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Jackson 5 and so on... (you get the hint, this guy was a musical genius and I thank him for bringing this music out onto radio for the world to enjoy).

In the words of Charles Isherwoods critcal response "the piece also serves as a celebration of the music that brought America's black and white populations together in a way nothing else ever did". And the show really did highlight that important subject matter on race within society and more importantly how the music changed that, from scenes such as getting to play Motown music on white radio stations and being televised from national to worldwide audiences, to playing at places such as the Copacabana, with even the racist security guards ending up dancing their shoes off and loving the performance. The show also included the 70s march and protests and the day that Kennedy was assassinated and also the day Dr. Martin Luther King was shot and how that paid contribution to the success and importance of the music by artists such as Marvin Gaye being influenced to include such political views within his songs and having that platform for audiences to listen to. 

The most stand out moment for me was both when the Jackson 5 were introduced, singing 'I Want You Back' and 'ABC' and Diana Ross' solo moment after splitting from The Supremes was both breathtaking and star striking to watch.

Overall, I can confidently conclude that I'm glad I paid to see this before it ended and highly recommend absolutely anyone to go see it. The music and the story of this performance piece along with an amazingly talented cast is definitely putting Motown in my top 5 west end shows!

Until next time <3