Theatre News

Top of the Pops receives musical makeover from Thriller team

Iconic BBC show Top of the Pops will receive a musical theatre makeover later in the year courtesy of the producers of Michael Jackson tribute show Thriller Live.

Billed as a “fabulous feast of musical nostalgia”, Top of the Pops Live will kick off a UK tour in Eastborne from 18-20 October, ahead of a possible West End transfer.

According to press material, “Top of the Pops Live will work as a nostalgic interactive jukebox celebrating the greatest hits by the biggest stars in the world of pop from the 70s, 80s and 90s – from TRex and David Bowie, to Blondie and Adam & The Ants, Duran Duran and Madonna, to Oasis and Blur.”

BBC Worldwide has signed a licensing deal with Flying Entertainment and producers Derek Nicol and Paul Walden, whose credits include West End jukebox musical Thriller Live.

Directed and choreographed by Thriller Live‘s Gary Lloyd, Top of the Pops Live will feature a screen showing vintage Top of the Pops TV chart footage and host a chart rundown covering three decades. Audiences on the night get to pick which song – from a list of list of five classic hits – will feature in the show’s finale.

Lloyd said: “Bringing Top of the Pops to the stage has been an exciting process. With today’s technology and using all of the iconic moments Top of the Pops brings, this show will excite audiences old and new. As a music lover who grew up following the charts with Top of the Pops as the highlight of the week, this is a dream show to work on.”

Following Eastbourne, the tour will visit Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford, Working, Dartford, Liverpool, York, Stoke, Southampton, Brighton, Woverhampton, Oxford, Bromley, Glasgow and Edinburgh, with further dates to be announced.