Many of us are familiar with Bob Marley’s classic songs, but do you know the meaning behind some of his most famous lyrics? Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed The World delves into the history of the reggae icon and shows that Rastafarian culture as a lot more than just smoking weed.

In a one man show at Holden Street Theatres, award-winning artist Duane Forrest infuses Marley’s songs with interludes of not only Bob Marley and The Wailers’ past, but his own. Throughout the show, photos of Marley as well as Forrest’s past illuminate the backdrop, adding texture to the stories told.

Growing up in Toronto with two Jamaican parents, Forrest tells of his struggles with identity in a largely white school (even perming his hair straight to fit in), the discovery of his ancestors who were brought over from West Africa as slaves and how Marley’s songs resonated with themes of revolution, cultural pride and political protest.

But what many of Marley’s songs also have is hope, and this is the thread that is sewn throughout the one-hour performance.

The production traces Marley’s journey from the streets of Trench Town to global icon, but Forrest frames reggae not just as a genre, but as a movement. “One Love” and “Redemption Song” are performed as everlasting works that continue to speak to injustice, hope and collective struggle, even in today’s climate.

Forrest uses pedal effects and a microphone to bring some of the covers to life, but his songs are just as effective when he’s simply strumming and gently crooning. Audience sing-alongs are encouraged which transformed the theatre into something closer to a communal gathering. In the end, you’re left with a deeper understanding and appreciation of reggae music and the impact Bob Marley has had on the world.

****1/2

4.5 stars

Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed The World is showing at Holden Street Theatres until Sunday, March 22. Get your tickets here now.