Kage Douglas and Natey Jones in The Harder They Come [Pamela Raith]

DON’T miss the return of reggae musical The Harder They Come to Stratford East after last year’s acclaimed run. Based on the cult Jamaican film starring Jimmy Cliff, produced and directed by Perry Henzell and co-written with Trevor Rhone, Suzan-Lori Parks’s stage adaptation sizzles with heat and energy and boasts a stupendous cast.

Set in the 1970s, Ivan (an impressive Natey Jones) arrives in Kingston, to pursue his dreams of becoming a reggae star.

Ivan falls for church-going Elsa (a sublime Madeline Charlemagne on press night; Chanice Alexander-Burnett from June 6) and finds himself on the wrong side of the oily local preacher (Ashley Samuels).

After engaging the interest of Mr Hilton (Thomas Vernal), the island’s leading record producer, Ivan believes success is assured. But when he’s offered a meagre, one-off fee for his first single, he decides to go it alone only to discover all doors are closed to him.

As Ivan realises to his cost, corruption is rife within the police, church and music industry. His only way to make a living is through the marijuana trade run by José (Danny Bailey), and he soon finds himself an outlaw from everything he holds dear.

At almost three hours (with an interval), it’s a long night, but Matthew Xia’s thrilling production never flags.

The extensive soundtrack – featuring a stellar eight-strong live band – delivers a non-stop flow of reggae classics including I Can See Clearly Now, Israelites, Many Rivers to Cross, Pressure Drop, Rivers of Babylon, You Can Get It If You Really Want and the iconic title number, all performed with great flair.

Shelley Maxwell’s sharp choreography has a deliberately improvisational quality, while Simon Kenny’s versatile set, Jessica Cabassa’s costumes and Ciarán Cunningham’s lighting add to the magic.

Does this show deserve a West End Transfer? Absolutely.

Until July 4
stratfordeast.com/