Blockbuster reggae show is back from May 16, 2026 and features music by Jimmy Cliff, star of the 1972 film, as well as new songs by Suzan-Lori Parks
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The Harder They Come is set for a blockbuster return to Stratford East this summer, after playing to packed houses at the venue last year.
Based on the 1972 film of the same name, which starred reggae legend Jimmy Cliff in the lead role of Ivan, the show is a story of poverty, music, love, religion and crime.
The Harder They Come features classic reggae hits from Cliff, Desmond Dekker and Toots And The Maytals and has been adapted for the stage by Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Suzan-Lori Parks who also wrote new songs for the piece.
For the latest production, Natey Jones returns as Ivan alongside Madeline Charlemagne as Elsa, with Chanice Alexander-Burnett taking over that role from June 8, 2026.
The story follows 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.
After cutting a record deal with a manipulative music mogul, he learns that the game is rigged and becomes increasingly defiant.
As his star rises, he finds himself topping the charts and the most-wanted list of criminals.
This show transports audiences to 1970’s Jamaica and asks what the cost of fighting against systemic injustice really is?
a hit comes back
“As the DJ says in The Harder They Come: ‘It’s a hit because you people made it a hit’ – and it turns out that isn’t just a line in a play, it’s exactly what happened at Stratford East,” said director Matthew Xia.
“Coming back now feels like a celebration of Jimmy Cliff’s legacy and of the audiences who showed up and claimed this story.
“I’m thrilled and as proud as rum punch that The Harder They Come is returning, just as big, bold, and revolutionary as before.
“There’s something rare about bringing a show like this back to the building where it belongs.
“This is a piece that lives in the exchange between the stage and audience – a summer reggae party driven by Cliff’s music, the energy of this fantastic company and the people in the room with us each night.”
Audiences can expect top quality reggae including Cliff’s timeless hits You Can Get It If You Really Want, Rebel In Me and Many Rivers To Cross.
key details: The Harder They Come
The Harder They Come is set to run at Stratford East from May 16 to July 4, 2026, with performances times varying depending on the day.
Tickets range from £10 to £53.50 and are on sale now.
Find more information about the show here
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