Thriller Live! (Tour – Manchester)

We may have lost him in 2009, but MJ will forever remain the world’s ultimate King of Pop. Keeping his music and memory alive, Thriller Live! presents a collaboration of Jackson songs that you will not want to stop , ‘till you’ve had enough!’

The show is presented in a concert style, lighting frequently filling the auditorium, as well as the stage itself. This is not a sit down show, the singing, dancing, and energetic cast making you want to get up onto your feet and moonwalk your way into the aisle. If you have the right audience, the atmosphere is absolutely electrifying.

Man In The Mirror, Jackson 5 Medley and She’s Out Of my Life are just three of the numbers that provide magic moments. Rather than destroying iconic numbers in Aiden X Factor style, all the lead vocalists perform respectful and highly commendable renditions, without making them ‘karaoke.’ Nathan James and Kieran Alleyne in particular need to be mentioned for their spine-tingling  performances.

The cast is entirely complicit, and Gary Lloyd directs and choreographs his company to absolute perfection.

When you initially read the programme, it seems that 18 songs per half could be Jackson overload, even for the most avid fan. This is certainly not the case, the lack of narrative and the fact many songs are cut short ensuring that the performance remains a comfortable length.

It possibly could not get any more cheesy, the costumes sometimes verging towards the label of ‘dance school’, but if taken at face value Thriller Live! is a slick, entertaining and fun production that the King himself would have been proud of.

– Rebecca Cohen