''Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical'' is a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

based on the life and music of

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...

written by Lee Hall.

Production history

West End premiere (2021-2023)

The musical made its world premiere at the Lyric Theatre in

London's West End The West End of London (commonly referred to as the West End) is a district of Central London, England, in the London Boroughs of Camden and the City of Westminster. It is west of the City of London and north of the River Thames, in which ma ...

on 20 October 2021, with previews from 1 October, starring

Arinzé Kene Arinzé Mokwe Kene () is a Nigerian-born British actor and playwright. Early life Kene was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1987 and moved to London when he was four. Kene's father was a taxi driver. Kene was bullied growing up and was encouraged t ...

as Bob Marley. The musical was originally due to open on 6 February 2021, but was postponed due to the ongoing

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. In July 2020, it was announced that Clint Dyer had replaced

Dominic Cooke Dominic Cooke (born 1966) is an English director and writer. Early life Born in Wimbledon, London, Wimbledon, south London, Cooke was brought up seeing a lot of theatre as a teenager from free theatre tickets provided by the Inner London Ed ...

as the production's director. The musical is choreographed by Shelley Maxwell, with set design by Chloe Lamford, costume design by Lisa Duncan, lighting design by Charles Balfour, sound design by Tony Gayle, sound effect design by Ben Grant and video design by Tal Yarden. Musical supervision and arrangements are by Phil Bateman, wigs, hair and make-up by Campbell Young, orchestration by Simon Hale, musical direction by Sean Green, and casting direction by Pippa Ailion. The production was nominated for 4

Laurence Olivier Awards The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply The Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Aw ...

in 2022, including Best New Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for Kene. In March 2022, Michael Duke took over the role of Bob Marley. Duke was previously the role’s alternate until Arinzé Kene’s departure. On 4 August 2022, it was announced that the musical would make its final performance on 8 January 2023. In October 2022, Duke won Best Male Actor in a Musical at the Black British Theatre Awards. The ceremony was held at the National Theatre in London.

Cast and characters

Notable West End replacements

* Bob Marley: Michael Duke (began March 2022), David Albury (began October 2022) * Alternate Bob Marley: David Albury (began March 2022), Ivano Turco (began October 2022) * Rita Marley: Cleopatra Rey (began October 2022)

Musical numbers

;Act I * Lively Up Yourself *

Could You Be Loved "Could You Be Loved" is a song by Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers. It was released in 1980 as the first single from their twelfth and last album, ''Uprising'' and is also included on their greatest-hits album ''Legend'' (1984). T ...

* Trenchtown Rock * Duppy Conqueror *

Is This Love Is This Love may refer to: * "Is This Love" (Daryl Braithwaite song) * "Is This Love?" (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah song) * "Is This Love?" (The Fireman song) * "Is This Love" (Aiden Grimshaw song) * "Is This Love" (Bob Marley & The Wailers song) ...

* Small Axe *

Stir It Up "Stir It Up" is a song composed by Bob Marley in 1967 and first recorded by the group Bob Marley and the Wailers that year and issued as a single. It was later covered by American singer Johnny Nash on his 1972 album ''I Can See Clearly Now''. ...

* Concrete Jungle * Talkin' Blues * Roots, Rock, Reggae * Turn Your Lights Down Low * Kinky Reggae * Rebel Music *

I Shot the Sheriff "I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley and released in 1973 with his band Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Wailers. Background The song was first released in 1973 on Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Wailers ...

War War is an armed conflict between the armed forces of states, or between governmental forces and armed groups that are organized under a certain command structure and have the capacity to sustain military operations, or between such organi ...

* Jamming ;Act II * Exodus *

Punky Reggae Party "Punky Reggae Party" is a song by Bob Marley, recorded and released in 1977. Not appearing on any studio album, it was released in 1977 as a 12-inch single in Jamaica only on the Tuff Gong and Lee Perry's Black Art labels, as a B-side to the " Ja ...

Waiting in Vain "Waiting in Vain" is a song written by reggae musician Bob Marley and recorded by Bob Marley and the Wailers, for their 1977 album '' Exodus''. Released as a single, it reached number 27 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was one of only a ...

* Running Away * Jamming (Reprise) *

No Woman, No Cry "No Woman, No Cry" is a reggae song performed by Bob Marley and the Wailers. The song was recorded in 1974 and released on the studio album '' Natty Dread''. The live recording of this song from the 1975 album '' Live!'' was released as a ...

* So Much Things to Say *

Redemption Song "Redemption Song" is a song by Jamaican singer Bob Marley. It is the final track on Bob Marley and the Wailers' twelfth album, '' Uprising'', produced by Chris Blackwell and released by Island Records. The song is considered one of Marley's gre ...

Three Little Birds "Three Little Birds" is a song by Bob Marley and the Wailers. It is the fourth track on side two of their 1977 album '' Exodus'' and was released as a single in 1980. The song reached the Top 20 in the UK, peaking at number 17. It is one of Mar ...

* One Love * Could You Be Loved (Reprise) *

Get Up, Stand Up "Get Up, Stand Up" is a song written by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. It originally appeared on The Wailers' 1973 album '' Burnin. It was recorded and played live in numerous versions by Bob Marley and the Wailers, along with solo versions by P ...

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Official website
{{Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music 2021 musicals Biographical musicals about musicians Cultural depictions of Bob Marley Jukebox musicals West End musicals