Jah Makin’ It Happen, a reggae musical played at Broadway Theatre Catford, written and directed by Sadé Nicole, it traces the Windrush experience in song and dance following Johnny Morgan and his family as they leave Jamaica with their eyes set on a better life in England, where ‘the streets are paved with gold’.
There was a lot of humour amidst this emotionally charged production filled with moments of tenderness which contrasts well with energetic, well-choreographed (Jendayi Selassie) scenes. There was a good variety of reggae classics like Dawn Penn’s ‘No, No, No’, Taurus Riley’s ‘She’s Royal’ and church anthems such as ‘Hear My Cry Oh Lord’ by Marvia Providence. It was a nice touch having the song lyrics on the screen and throughout the play, there was plenty of audience interaction creating the perfect vibe.
The staging, set and props were adequate but not amazing but that doesn’t take away from the brilliance of the show as the narrative is what really drives this production.
They have created a nice warm space to tell your mum’s story, your grandad’s story – someone you know would be able to relate. They have created a show with something for everyone and churchgoers are not left out in this interactive, uplifting and entertaining tribute to the pioneers of the Windrush generation who paved the way for generations to come.
A thrilling, feel-good show that literally had the audience calling out for more.
Highly recommend.
NEED TO KNOW: Jah Makin’ It Happen played at Broadway Theatre Catford on 27 October 2025. Find out more
