Opening at the Lyric theatre in London’s West End in January 2009, Thriller Live is the 13th longest West End musical of all time; and continues to play to sell out audiences.
Thriller Live, differs from other jukebox musicals as there is very little script and no storyline. This piece is a two-hour tribute concert featuring the greatest hits of Michael Jackson’s career from the beginnings of the Jackson 5 to the Grammy award winning albums Thriller and Bad.
Jonathan Park’s set design combines with Nigel Catmur’s simple and effective LED lighting screens, which transport the viewer to the decade of each song.
Thriller Live begins with the Jackson 5 years and includes classics such as I’ll be there, ABC and I want you back, which transported me back to the 18th of February 1979, when I was lucky enough to see the Jackson 5 perform at Birmingham’s Bingley Hall as part of their Destiny World Tour. This section of the show was my personal favourite, each song delivered with passion and a purity that perfectly captured the Jackson’s music of this era.
Choreographer Gary Lloyd has created dazzling, edgy routines delivered with precision and energy by the very talented dancers.
Kieran Alleyne is mesmerising as he performs the iconic dance routines associated with Michael Jackson, with ease and professionalism.
Ina Seidon for me gave the outstanding vocal performance of the evening, delivering each song with power and emotion.
Full of classic Jackson hits, that had the Birmingham audience on their feet, Thriller Live is a perfect feel good piece of theatre, and a must for any fans of timeless pop music as well as fans of the music of Michael Jackson.
Thriller Live is at the Alexandra Birmingham from the 3rd-8th of June when it continues its UK tour.
MT
Theatreatstic rating 4/5:
We say: “Thriller Live is a perfect feel good piece of theatre, and a must for any fans of timeless pop music as well as fans of the music of Michael Jackson”
Theatretastic 