Everything you need to know about ‘Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical’ in the West End

From how to get Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical tickets to when to see the musical, here’s your ultimate guide to Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical.

Think of reggae music and one artist will probably spring to mind — Bob Marley. The pioneering ska musician spread the messages of Pan-Africanism, Rastafarianism and togetherness through songs such as "Is This Love" and "Exodus." Even though Marley passed away in 1981 at the age of 36, his musical contributions know no bound. Countless artists sample Bob Marley songs in their tracks today, and Marley is still considered to be a Jamaican icon.

Bob Marley’s life is immortalised in musical form in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical in the West End. The jukebox musical shows his complicated life, from growing up in Kingston, to living in the United Kingdom and his eventual death. If you’re a Bob Marley fan, or want to experience his music, attending the Bob Marley musical is almost like a rite of passage.

Here's our complete guide to the West End production of Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical at the Lyric Theatre. Book Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical tickets on London Theatre.

What is Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical About?

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical centres on the life of Jamaican singer, Bob Marley. After growing up in a troubled household, Marley sought mental refuge in creating music. With his group, The Wailers, Marley lept to the top of the charts. A cover version of “I Shot the Sheriff” reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973, and the Wailers found instant fame. After recording success, the band moved to London, but Bob Marley eventually split from his group to go solo.

Money couldn’t buy life for Bob Marley though. In his final years, he was nearly assassinated by seven armed men in Kingston in 1976. Eventually, Marley passed away from cancer in 1981. But there’s plenty of inspriing moments to take away from Marley’s life. His song “One Love” was performed at a political concert, which saw leaders Michael Manley and Edward Seaga shake hands in the midst of a civil war. Bob Marley changed the face and future of Jamaica, and his story is told in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical.

Where is Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical playing?

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical is at the Lyric Theatre. The Lyric Theatre is one of six West End venues located on Shaftesbury Avenue. Previous shows at the Lyric Theatre include Thriller Live, the Michael Jackson revue musical which played for over a decade. Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical opened at the Lyric Theatre in 2021.

How long is Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical?

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical has a running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Evening performances typically begin at 7:30pm and end at 10:00pm. Matinee performances usually begin at 2:30pm and end at 5:00pm.

What days is Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical playing?

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical plays eight performances a week at the Lyric Theatre. Evening performances take place daily from Tuesday to Sunday, and matinee performances are on Saturday and Sunday. For the complete performance schedule and show times, please visit the Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical page to learn more.

When did Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical premiere?

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical began previews at the Lyric Theatre on 1 Oct. 2021. The musical then played previews for two weeks and had an official opening on 18 Oct. 2021. The world premiere of Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical took place in London.

Who wrote Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical?

Lee Hall wrote the original story for Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical. This is Hall’s second West End musical; he previously wrote the Billy Elliot musical, which played at the Victoria Palace Theatre for 11 years years. Hall’s playwriting credits include Network, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour and Shakespeare in Love. He’s also worked on musical screenplays including Cats and the Elton John biopic Rocketman, starring Taron Egerton.

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical Characters

As the Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical story is based on real-life events, it's unsurprising that the characters are also based on real people too. In fact, many of the lead characters in the musical are still alive today. Find out more about the main characters in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical before seeing the show.

Bob Marley: A Jamaican reggae musician who changed the future of music and religion in harmony. Marley passed away in Florida at the age of 36 from cancer. We don’t want to reveal too much about Bob Marley here. You’ll need to watch the musical to find out more!

Rita Marley: Rita Marley is a Jamaican singer who was part of the backing vocal group, I Threes. She married Bob Marley in 1966 and they were together until he passed away in 1981. Rita Marley is still alive today.

Judy Mowatt: A Jamaican reggae artist who was part of the I Threes alongside Rita Marley. Judy Mowatt is still alive today.

Marcia Griffiths: A Jamaican reggae artist who was part of the I Threes alongside Rita Marley. Marcia Griffiths is still alive today.

Cindy Breakspeare: A Canadian-Jamaican singer who was crowned Miss World in 1976. Breakspeare had a child with Bob Marley, a boy named Damian. Cindy Breakspeare is still alive today.

Bunny Wailer: A three-time Grammy-winning Jamaican singer-songwriter who was part of reggae group The Wailers alongside Bob Marley. He won three Grammys for Best Reggae Album in 1991, 1995 and 1997. Bunny Wailer is still alive today.

Peter Tosh: A Jamaican singer-songwriter who was part of reggae group The Wailers alongside Bob Marley. Peter Tosh passed away in 1987.

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical Songs

As you’d expect, a Bob Marley-inspired musical is packed with Bob Marley’s greatest hits. Listen out for songs such as “Could You Be Loved,” “I Shot the Sheriff” and “War.” There’s also a powerful rendition of “No Woman No Cry” sung by Rita Marley, Bob Marley’s wife. Find out more about Bob Marley songs here.

Act One

“Lively Up Yourself”
“Could You Be Loved”
“Trench Town Rock”
“Duppy Conqueror”
“Is This Love”
“Small Axe”
“Stir it Up”
“Concrete Jungle”
“Talkin' Blues”
“Roots, Rock, Reggae”
“Turn Your Lights Down Low”
“Kinky Reggae”
“Rebel Music”
“I Shot the Sheriff”
“War”
“Jamming”

Act Two

“Exodus”
“Punky Reggae Party”
“Waiting in Vain”
“Running Away”
“Jamming”
“No Woman No Cry”
“So Much Things to Say”
“Redemption Song”
“Three Little Birds”
“One Love”
“Could You Be Loved”
“Get Up, Stand Up!”

What awards has Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical won?

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical picked up four Olivier Award nominations. Winning categories are in bold.

Olivier Awards

Best New Musical
Best Actor in a Musical - Arinze Kene
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Gabrielle Brooks
__Best Original Score or New Orchestrations - Simon Hale __

How to get Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical tickets

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical brings the Jamaican vibes to the West End. Discover Bob Marley’s life in musical form at the Lyric Theatre in London. Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical closes on 8 Jan. 2023, so you'll want to get your Bob Marley musical tickets now!

Book Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical tickets on London Theatre.