The United Kingdom was home away from home for Gregory Isaacs, as the country where the Jamaican reggae singer had significant success with songs like ‘Night Nurse‘ and ‘Soon Forward‘.

Fitting then, that ‘The Cool Ruler: The Musical‘, a stage production based on his life, opened at the Hackney Empire in east London on May 25.

Isaacs, who died in London in October 2010 at age 60, is played by Terrence Wallen, a Briton of Jamaican heritage. It features many of the songs that made him a major star, including ‘Rumours’, ‘Hard Drugs’, ‘Lonely Soldier’, ‘Love Is Overdue’ and ‘Cool Down The Pace’.

Copeland Forbes, Isaacs’ manager at the time of his death, was overwhelmed by the response to the Hackney Empire show.

“Everybody said it was on point, people got up and danced. It’s something with a difference and I think that’s something they long for,” he said.

‘The Cool Ruler: The Musical’ is written and produced by Anton Phillips, a Jamaican residing in the UK. The promoter is John ‘Bagga John’ Farquarson, who was born in the UK to Jamaican parents.

Farquarson promoted several shows with Isaacs during the 1980s when his career peaked. He was pleased with the full house at the Hackney Empire, located in an area with strong West Indian ties.

“All eight shows in the UK have been sold out. Based on this show, it’s blown up in the UK,” he gushed.

‘The Cool Ruler’ follows Isaacs’ rise from Denham Town, a tough West Kingston community, to his rise as a bona fide star in the 1970s thanks to hits like ‘Love Is Overdue’, ‘All I Have is Love’ and ‘Slavemaster’.

It also gives a look into his long struggle with cocaine, a habit that resulted in multiple court cases.

Next stop for ‘The Cool Ruler: The Musical’ was Fairfield Halls in Croydon on May 31. It then plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham on June 1.