Review: The King of Reggae

Friday 24th May 2024 at York Theatre Royal

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Note: review will be updated with cast credits.

Rush Theatre and The King of Reggae Band’s latest show brings us a celebration of the trailblazing icon, Bob Marley.

Natty is a fantastic lead, not just vocally, but also in the distinctive footwork and a sense of being totally in the moment. He’s joined by the fabulous on-stage band and the I-Threes, who provide rich vocal back-up and give layers and textures to the songs as they move through synchronised choreography.

Sweeping through 20 or so tracks with energy and feeling, the cast offer us renditions of “One Love”, “Get Up, Stand Up”, “Is This Love” and “Redemption Song” among many others – it’s an impressive selection and fans won’t be disappointed by the line-up here.

The man and the music are the focus of The King of Reggae, but in truth the music takes centre stage with real presence and feeling while the narration about his life feels less polished. It does the job though, reminding us of the individual and career behind the hits, and with projections providing some visual variety – just not always in sync with the narration.

And our narrator is charismatic and warm, covering Marley’s love life with a twinkle and his political sway with admiration, before getting the audience on their feet to enjoy the music in every limb – because at heart, this show really is all about basking in the fantastic music Marley gave us.

The King of Reggae feels very much like a welcoming gig more than anything else, so if you’re a Bob Marley fan looking to lose yourself in the music you love, this’ll be an evening well spent.

The King of Reggae is at York Theatre Royal until May 25th 2024 (tickets here) and then continues to tour.