After opening on Nov. 9, 2006, the musical — which received three Olivier nominations — announced an extended booking period to Oct. 27, but will now make way for the West End transfer of Fiddler on the Roof. A Broadway production of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, is planned for spring 2008.

The London cast includes Clarke Peters and Nicola Hughes, who play the title roles in Nunn's two-and-a-half-hour reworking of the classic.

Casting for the other principal roles includes Cornell John (Les Miz) as Crown, Dawn Hope (Simply Heavenly) as Serena and O-T Fagbenle (Six Degrees of Separation) as plays Sportin' Life.

Peters and Hughes co-starred in the London production of Simply Heavenly. Peters' credits include Five Guys Named Mo, Mourning Becomes Electra, The Iceman Cometh and Driving Miss Daisy. Hughes' credits include Damn Yankees, Fosse and Tommy.

Porgy and Bess features some of the greatest songs in musical theatre, including "Summertime," "I Got Plenty O' Nothin'" and "It Aint Necessarily So." The show premiered on Oct. 10, 1935, at New York’s Alvin Theatre. With a score by George Gershwin, lyrics by his brother Ira and a book by DuBose Heyward, Porgy and Bess was based on Dubose and Dorothy Heyward's novel "Porgy.'

Set in the fictional Catfish Row, SC, the show was the first time the musical form attempted to reflect the African-American working-class experience. Since its premiere, the show has attained opera status.

Nunn's £3 million (about $5.5 million) production features a 40-strong cast and a 20-piece orchestra.

For more information about The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, call (0)870 164 8787.