Victor Romero Evans in The Harder They Comes
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The Harder They Come tours to Salford, 22 June

Screen-to-stage Reggae musical The Harder They Come, which began life at Stratford East in 2006, has being revived for a national tour and arrives at the Lowry later this month (22-26 June 2010).

The show, which had a West End run at the Playhouse Theatre in 2008 (See News, 9 May 2008), is based on the 1972 film that starred Jimmy Cliff and introduced reggae to a worldwide audience. It tells the story of young singer Ivan Martin who heads to Kingston in Jamaica with dreams of becoming a reggae star, but the harsh reality of the music scene drives him to a fast and furious life as an outlaw.

The stage version – written by Perry Henzell, the co-writer, director and producer of the original film, who died in 2006 –  features songs from the original film soundtrack, including “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, “Higher and Higher”, “Many Rivers to Cross” and “Rivers of Babylon”, accompanied by a live reggae band.

The new tour features original cast members Victor Romero Evans, Marlon King, Chris Tummings, Joy Mack and Derek Elroy alongside Matt Henry in the central role of Ivan.

Presented by UK Arts International in association with Nottingham Playhouse, The Harder They Come arrives at the Lowry from 22 June, whilst in the smaller Quays Theatre, another Stratford production, Britain's Got Bhangra plays on the same dates.

- by Glenn Meads

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