JA Story The Musical, a theatrical celebration of Jamaican history, makes its debut on October 29 at the Stratford Circus venue in east London.

The production is scheduled to run for three days and concludes a series of events marking Black History Month in Britain.

Written by JD Douglas, JA Story is a song and dance interpretation of major events in Jamaica, going back before Italy-born explorer Christopher Columbus 'discovered' the island in 1494.

Its diverse 'cast' includes British monarch Queen Victoria, reggae legend Bob Marley, author Ian Fleming and humorist Noel Coward.

Marley had strong British ties. His father, Norval, was the son of British expatriates in Jamaica. Some of the singer's finest moments, including his 1975 concert at the Lyceum theatre, took place in England.

Marley had a massive following among black youth throughout Britain and influenced emerging reggae bands like Aswad and Steel Pulse.

Fleming owned the Goldeneye retreat in Oracabessa, St Mary. It was there that he entertained celebrity guests like Coward, and created super detective James Bond.

JA Story is the latest theatrical effort by Britons of West Indian heritage to maintain ties to their Caribbean heritage. Three years ago, a stage version of the 1972 hit film, The Harder They Come, was launched in London to rave reviews.

That musical has since played in Toronto, Canada, and in south Florida.

J.D. Douglas is best known in British arts circles as co-author of Black Heroes In The Hall Of Fame, the epic theatre production which paid tribute to the accomplishments of black giants, such as Marley, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

Black Heroes opened in London in 1987, and went on to over 2000 performances in Europe and North America.

Black History Month in Britain transcends England. In Wales, an exhibition has been mounted in the capitol Cardiff recognising the achievements of blacks in that country, including singer Shirley Bassey and footballer Ryan Giggs.

- H.C.