Direct from London’s West End where it is now in its record breaking 10th year, Thriller Live is a spectacular concert created to celebrate the career of the world’s greatest entertainer.
Seen by over 4 million people in over 30 countries, Thriller Live continues to moonwalk around the world, taking you on a visual, audio and electrifying journey through the magic of Michael’s 45 year musical history. Currently on at Belgrade Theatre in Coventry our resident Michael Jackson fan Lilith Hunt-Sheppard went along to cat the show for herself.
Yes, I was that child that relentlessly played Michael Jackson in my room on a continual loop. Whether it was his early stuff from the Jackson Five, right through to the Bad album, I can guarantee my family knew all the words almost as well as I did. One thing I never had the chance to do was see him live (no matter how hard we tried for tickets), so when I heard Thriller Live was coming to the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, I knew I just had to go.
To be honest, I didn’t quite know what to expect. As we took our seats ahead of the show, I couldn’t help but notice that there was everyone from 6 years old to 60. A true testament of how his music had touched so many lives.
As the show starts director and vocalist Britt Quentin tells us we are in for a two hour celebration of the King Of Pop, he certainly wasn’t wrong. As they start to take us through Michael’s vast back catalogue of music, I couldn’t help but sing along.
Joined on stage by Shaquille Maerice Hemmans, Rory Taylor and Adrianna Louise, the four of them really do take you on a magical journey. Switching between solo’s and singing together they produce beautiful harmonies and hit every note. For me, I loved that they had a female vocal as part of the main line up. Audience participation was encouraged and at times you could literally hear everyone there singing along.
Behind every great singer is always a incredible band and thriller Live was no acceptation. The guitar solos for songs like Dirty Diana would make any guitar lovers air guitar along, the hair standing up on the backs of necks. They were absolutely flawless.
The magic didn’t stop there! Michael created so many memorable dance routines to every one of his songs, theses were recreated live for us on stage. Obviously, Smooth Criminal is one of the most memorable and as vocalists’ Eddy Lima takes to the stage looking every bit the part and moving just like the man himself. Featuring the famous 45 degree lean, to the cheering audience he moonwalks his way across the stage.
As they draw the show to a close and the opening of Beat It is played by the band, the whole audience jumps to their feet before Thriller finally closed the show.
Even when I think about the show now, I still get goosebumps. We have seen a lot of shows over the years, but few have ever had the energy the we saw at Thriller Live. Whether you are a Michael Jackson fan or not, Thriller Live is a show that everyone should see.
Running at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry till March 10th.
For tickets visit http://www.belgrade.co.uk/event/thriller-live-a-musical-celebration-of-mich93505
