Cast set for The Harder They Come musical at Stratford East

Stratford East has confirmed the full cast and creative team for the UK premiere of The Harder They Come, a newly adapted reggae musical based on the Jamaican film.

The production, running from 13 September to 25 October, has been adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and will be directed by Matthew Xia, marking a return to Stratford East where the original stage version opened in 2006. It follows Ivan, an aspiring singer who arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, determined to live out his dreams on his own terms and make it as a music superstar.

The cast includes Danny Bailey as José, Josie Benson as Daisy, Craig Blake as Ray, Madeline Charlemagne as Elsa, Natey Jones as Ivan, Jason Pennycooke as Preacher, Simon-Anthony Rhoden as Pedro and Thomas Vernal as Hilton.

The ensemble features Chanice Alexander-Burnett, Lori Barker, Ashh Blackwood, Aisha Davis, Kage Douglas, Robert Grose, Lauren Azania AJ King-Yombo, Jack Matthew, Newtion Matthews and Marcellus Whyte.

The creative team brings together Simon Kenny as set designer, Jessica Cabassa as costume designer, Ciarán Cunningham as lighting designer, Tony Gayle as live sound designer, Nicola T Chang as sound designer for effects and soundscape, Shelley Maxwell as choreographer and intimacy director, Gino Ricardo Green as video designer, Ashton Moore as musical director and vocal arranger, Benjamin Kwasi Burrell as orchestrator and music arranger, Luke Bacchus as assistant musical director and keys 2, Heather Basten as casting director, Dominique Hamilton as WHAM designer and supervisor, Claire Llewellyn for RC Annie as fight director, Aundrea Fudge as voice and dialect coach, Emily Aboud as assistant director, Claire Nicholas as costume supervisor, Andy Reader as production manager, Marie-Angelique St. Hill as company stage manager, Emily Davis as deputy stage manager and Emily Mei-Ling Pearce and Dynzell Muguti as assistant stage managers.

The Harder They Come is presented by Stratford East in association with Washington Square Films, Joshua Blum and Bruce Miller. The book is by Parks, with songs by Jimmy Cliff and additional new songs by Parks. The story is based on the film produced and directed by Perry Henzell and co-written with Trevor Rhone.