Premier Arts & Entertainment Coverage

Duane Forrest: Bob Marley – How Reggae Changed The World

February 17, 2026

Review by Markus Hamence – Duane Forrest: Bob Marley – How Reggae Changed The World – Performance date: Tuesday 17 February 2026. Holden Street Theatres, Adelaide, South Australia

From Off Broadway to a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe, award-winning artist Duane Forrest takes audiences on an uplifting, deeply human journey through the music & legacy of global phenomenon Bob Marley. Blending soulful renditions of Marley’s classics with heartfelt stories of identity, ancestry & rediscovery, Forrest explores how reggae became a rhythm of unity, resistance &healing. Raised in Toronto by Jamaican parents, wrestling with identity, colorism, and cultural disconnection, he reflects on finding belonging through Marley’s message – reminding us that, in the end, every little thing is gonna be alright.

It’s pretty much a no-brainer… Duane Forrest and his 2026 Adelaide Fringe is TRIUMPHANT. Done – Go and see it. But for me not to break it down in-depth would be lazy, so, read-on music and show fans…

Duane Forrest delivers more than a tribute show. It’s not. He creates a soulful, immersive storytelling experience that pulses with rhythm, identity and cultural truth. In Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World, the Toronto-born singer-songwriter blends acoustic renditions of Marley classics with deeply personal reflections on ancestry, belonging and self-discovery, crafting a performance that feels intimate yet globally resonant.

Forrest steps into the light from the audience aisle, guitar in hand, we applauded and the silenced as he dove straight into the opening show track.The room settles into a warm, communal energy. His voice – rich, expressive and emotionally grounded – honours Marley’s catalogue without imitation. Instead, he filters the songs through his own lived experience, revealing how reggae evolved into a language of unity, resistance and healing, entwining Marley’s life stories melding them into his own. It was masterfully crafted.

“His voice – rich, expressive and emotionally grounded – honours Marley’s catalogue without imitation…”
– Markus Hamence

Elevating the performance is Forrest’s narrative thread. Raised in Toronto by Jamaican parents, he shares stories of colourism, cultural disconnection and rediscovery, tracing how Marley’s music helped him reclaim identity and belonging. From a perm and back again, Forrest embraces himself, his culture, it’s turbulent history and upbringing with his family.These reflections transform familiar songs into moments of collective recognition, inviting audiences to reflect on their own histories and sense of place.

Duane Forrest beaming joyous smile shines, his guitar work is sublime and his voice is cheerily Jamacan gold. Oh, and he does some fantastic voice work playing a couple of characters (fun, without being cheesy) here and there.

For the Marley fans, Forrest has done his research and delivers us the goods in spades. The energy Bob out in his music fight for equality is captured beautifully and authentically by Duane.

The well known hits were there, Buffalo Soldier, I Shot The Sheriff, Three Little Birds and Duane’s favourite – Redemption Song, plus we got some super cool mash-ups. For an hour show he packed a lot in from his admired artist’s vast catalogue.

The show moves fluidly between concert, theatre and spoken-word memoir. Forrest’s storytelling is warm and disarmingly honest, punctuated by humour and gentle audience interaction that creates a shared sense of community. The stripped-back staging keeps focus on voice, guitar and story – a wise choice that allows the emotional core to resonate. Wth images on the stage back-drop of the tragic history, Marley himself, Duane’s parents and our performer as a child, they balanced out the stories and the music thoughtfully, like detailed icing on an already perfect cake.

Forrest’s storytelling is warm and disarmingly honest, punctuated by humour and gentle audience interaction that creates a shared sense of community.
– Markus Hamence

Audience reactions speak of joy, connection and discovery, with many describing the performance as uplifting and heart-touching. It’s easy to see why: the show carries an emotional sincerity that transcends genre, appealing equally to reggae devotees and newcomers. We sung along, whistled, hummed and answered question base on out Marley knowledge making the night interactive and engaging, we were there with him with no barrier between the performer and the audience.

At a time when the world feels fractured and noisy, Forrest offers a reminder of music’s power to heal and unite. This is not nostalgia – it is living cultural memory delivered with heart, rhythm and purpose. The world at all is still needing ONE LOVE. Amen.

Verdict: A heartfelt, life-affirming Fringe highlight that celebrates Marley’s legacy while telling a universal story of identity, resilience and hope.

This is a STAR!