The Harder They Come, currently showing at Stratford East is an updated remix of the stage musical, last performed almost 20 years ago at the same venue. That pioneering production was an adaption of Perry Henzell’s 1972 cult film of the same name, co-written by Trevor Rhone. Henzell is regarded as the ‘Father of Jamaican film’. For his debut, the director cast the singer Jimmy Cliff in the lead role. This not only made Cliff a household name but arguably introduced Jamaican culture and reggae to a global audience.
My first experience of the Harder They Come was at a late-night screening of the film at the notorious Scala cinema in King’s Cross. It was the late ‘80s and following Bob Marley’s death and the UK’s embrace of Ska via bands such as The Specials, Madness, and The Selecter, Jamaican music was no longer niche and underground. Instead, it was fuelling youth culture and fashion. I remember almost nothing of the film, but the music. It was a deep passion for the songs that lured me from the suburbs to that shady and shocking cinema. It was the music that stayed with me.
In the late ‘90s, I saw The Harder They Come during the dying days of The Coronet picture house in Elephant & Castle. Rather like The Scala, it was grimy, sporadically lively and thick with smoke. I’m not sure smoking was permitted, but the establishment made no effort to enforce this rule, or to refurbish, or even clean the venue. Afternoon screenings of any film on the programme were largely attended by the homeless, and relentless weed enthusiasts. If you weren’t a stoner by habit, by the end of the movie, you were stoned by correlation. It’s a miracle the place didn’t burn to the ground when they screened The Harder They Come. People were pulling on chillums, swigging rum and passing round big ol’ blunts like the end of the world was nigh. My memory of that screening is also a tad hazy.
Henzell’s film still maintains its raw, authentic power, even if by today’s standards, it can feel shonky, rough and melodramatic. At times it has the vibes of a documentary, as the camera drags us from chapel to gully, using local characters as actors and serving a rich mood board of poverty, supreme fashions, ‘70s style and hardcore patois. These observations on The Harder They Come were made after viewing the film for a third time, in prep for the Stratford East show. My less bloodshot, but more informed and elderly eye found more texture on the most recent viewing. However, one thing remained, strong and inescapable. The music.
It’s somewhat surprising to declare that The Harder They Come (A Musical) is a more polished and sharper executed depiction of Perry Henzell’s original story. Female characters are given a more agency and finer lines to work with. Natey Jones is astounding as Ivan the vagabond, runaway singing bad boy. It’s a nuanced and dazzling performance, which makes him a bit more loveable than the film version of Ivan. He’s still volatile, murderous and frustrating, but Jones brings a heap of heart and soul to the mix that keeps you gunning for him, despite his foolishness. Suzan-Lori Parks wrote the book for this production and deserves huge credit for dialling down aspects of the original that weren’t gonna fly in 2025. She has also raising up other aspects of the story that needed some light. Having the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama is not only a coup, but it’s paid big creative dividends to the quality of this show. Top. Work.
Danny Bailey plays José, a Kingston based weed dealer and wide boy. He’s one of the first characters the audience meets, and Bailey brings an energy that could fill a stadium. Or two. His presence, execution of choreo and commitment to character are a joy to behold. Within seconds of Bailey bounding on stage, I relaxed and thought, ‘I’m in very good hands, just enjoy the show’. He’s a star and it’s a buzz to see him shine.
It’s a super strong cast across this ensemble production and Natey Jones has some shoes to fill in playing Ivan, which he does, and then some. He brings a depth to the characterisation which is a more detailed evolution of what Jimmy Cliff delivered. Madeline Charlemagne as Ivan’s love interest, Elsa, is given more to work with than her film counterpart and takes that baton and runs with it. Elsa is harder to understand in the film version, but Charlemagne’s performance makes us love and root for Ivan like she does. Her convincing and emotionally layered presence helps keeps the audience hopeful for the couple’s increasingly doomed romance.
The Harder They Come ultimately excels as a stage production because it IS about the tunes. The soundtrack is hailed as one of the best albums of all time in many quarters. To hear those songs live, backed by a banging band is always going to be a better prospect than nodding along to a synched soundtrack on a laptop or even at the cinema. These are songs of protest, struggle, strife and spirit. To really feel them, you have to be in the room. Right now, Stratford East is that room.
From the gorgeous gospel scenes to the rowdy reprise, this cast give pitch perfect performances of these classic songs. Delivered with passion, these singers brough a tear to my eye and happiness to the heart. We live in hard times and this production of The Harder They Come proved a very precious tonic for this hard-faced critic.
The Harder They Come is at Stratford East until 1st November 2025. https://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/the-harder-they-come
Reviewer: Stewart Who?
Reviewed: 24th September 2025
North West End UK Rating: