The production Garvey The Musical, which was first staged in October last year, returns to the boards of the Philip Sherlock Centre For The Creative Arts at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, for a limited run on weekends from May 12-28.

Writer and director Michael Holgate told the

Sunday

Observer that bringing back the production is part of his overall thrust to have as many people see the work, which espouses some of the ideas and philosophies of Jamaica’s first National Hero Marcus Garvey.“For me, a production must have feet, and life and breath. Too often, here in Jamaica and the wider region, a production is mounted, has an initial run and then dies. Ten years ago, someone recalls how great it was, but it is never shared. I want this musical to live in the same way that centuries later, we are still performing the works of Shakespeare. Plus, it is my mandate and passion to use the medium of theatre to reach people and highlight the issue of social justice, especially as it relates to black people. This work looks at the black situation, race relations, and therefore having as many people as possible see it — if 10 young people stop bleaching themselves after seeing this, this would please me.”Holgate also disclosed that remounting the work is also part of a continuous tweaking and editing of the musical, which he ultimately hopes will make it to Broadway and London’s West End.“If Marcus Garvey, a little man from Jamaica, could take his message to the world, why then not a musical about him? This production merges my two worlds — The Ashe Company, for which I am artistic director, and my work here at the university. The cast brings together members of the The University Players and Ashe. So persons who saw it last time should come back as we have reworked it. What a lot of persons don’t understand is that productions that make it to Broadway and The West End are first staged in small theatres years before and then, through critiques and editing, make it Off Broadway before finally reaching the ultimate. So this is my start as my intention it to take it there. It is my most important work to date,” said Holgate.In March this year,

Garvey The Musical won two Actor Boy Awards in the categories of Best Musical and Best Original Song.