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Thriller Live

The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

****

Get on the floor at The Alexandra Theatre and don’t blame it on the boogie as Thriller Live moonwalks onto stage in Birmingham this week direct from the West End.

Fans can join Kieran Alleyne, vocalist and lead dancer, as Michael Jackson, with an impressive rendition of Smooth Criminal and Dangerous. His attention to detail along with the incredible choreography by Gary Lloyd creates the illusion that you’re actually watching the man himself.

Kieran made his West End debut a decade ago at only 13 years old and a fantastic achievement to be invited back to re-join the cast.

Don’t expect a story to follow but do expect all your favourite Jackson hits spanning the artist’s 45 year musical career from The Jackson Five Motown era to Disco, Pop, Rock and R&B. MJ had many sides to him and his image was ever-changing as are the vocalists in Thriller Live. Nick James, Rory Taylor and Britt Quentin, also resident director, help bring the magic alive.

The stand out vocalist with soul oozing out of every pore, who steals the show, is Ina Seidou. Ina reached the finals of Holland’s Got Talent in 2016 with Unbreakable and is now in her second year of touring bringing the soul to MJ’s back catalogue.

The on-stage band add the concert feel to the evening with guitar solos by Allan Salmon and Rob Minns and keeping the ‘Beat It’ on drums was Matt Arnold. The energy keeps increasing throughout the acts and towards the end of Act 2 the audience is reminded of the more serious songs They Don’t Care About Us and Earth Song but the sombre atmosphere is soon notched up to a frenzy as the much awaited Thriller creeps onto stage with dancing corpses and Vincent Price’s cackle.

It’s as easy as ABC to follow the storyline as there isn’t one but if you want to Shake Your Body down to the ground then Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough as you can go Off The Wall and jump up and down at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre till Saturday June 8.

Emma Trimble

03-06-18

Visit the New Alexandra Theatre Box Office online at www.atgtickets.com/birmingham or call 08448713011. 

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