Jamaican Plays

For Jamaicans and fans of Jamaica in the U.K., you may want to go see “JA Story – The Musical“, a theatrical celebration of Jamaican history, which makes its debut on October 29 at the Stratford Circus venue in east London (Box office #: 0208 357 2625). It is scheduled to run for just three days, and concludes a series of events that have been held to mark Black History Month in Britain.

Written by JD Douglas (co-author of “Black Heroes In The Hall Of Fame”), JA Story is a song and dance interpretation of major historical events in Jamaica, going back even before Italian-born explorer Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ the island in 1494. JA Story is a joyous family-oriented show that not only entertains but informs in equal measure. Notably, its musical coverage includes Ska, Mento, Rock Steady, Reggae, R & B, Classical and Pop music. The dancing styles featured include Modern, Contemporary, African, Latin, old time Jamaican, modern street dance, Dance Hall and the Quardrille. JA Story‘s very diverse ‘cast’ includes British monarch Queen Victoria, author Ian Fleming, reggae legend Bob Marley and humorist Noel Coward, as they recreate key events in Jamaica’s history, and other world wide influences that helped to shape this truly remarkable island.

JA Story is the latest theatrical effort by Britons of West Indian heritage as they seek to maintain ties to their Caribbean heritage. Here are a couple questions that are answered via this outstanding production – What were the circumstances that made James William Gordon the first Jamaican to be awarded the Victoria Cross way back in 1892? Who is the Bahamian that inspired Marcus Garvey?