A new musical telling the story of reggae legend Bob Marley’s life will premiere at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End this month.
“Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical” follows Marley’s rise to international stardom, honoring his legacy. Born in 1945 in Nine Mile, St. Ann, Marley became a global superstar with hits such as “No Woman, No Cry,” “One Love,” and “I Shot the Sheriff.”
He died of cancer in 1981 at age 36.
The show’s director, Clint Dyer, told Reuters at a press preview on Thursday, “We’re really trying to show the heart of the man, trying to show what really made him tick and why he made the choices he made”.
British actor and playwright Arinze Kene plays Marley, donning his trademark dreadlocks and displaying the moves and mannerisms he studied in archive videos and photos.
Taking on the role was intimidating, but Kene said he leaped at the opportunity to tell the story of one of his childhood heroes.
“Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical,” which was written by Lee Hall, began previews at the Lyric Theater on Oct. 1, with the show’s official opening night set for Oct. 20.
