Tag Archives: Thriller

Director: Gary Lloyd Reviewer: Grace Patrick Gary Lloyd’sThriller Live is an exuberant celebration of the career and life of Michael Jackson: As we’re told several times during the show, nobody else either before or since has reached the heights of his stardom and international renown. One element of this that really hit home is the successful effort to move past ...

Director / Choreographer: Gary Lloyd Musical Supervisor / Arranger: John Maher Reviewer: Helen Tope Now in its 9th year, Thriller Live wears its heart on its sequinned sleeve. Sketching the outline of Michael Jackson’s career in music and dance, this musical hasn’t lost its ability to capture an audience’s attention. Bold, brash and unapologetically so, it charts the Motown-inspired roots of The Jackson Five, through ...

Writer: Agatha Christie Adaptor: Frank Vosper Director: Lucy Bailey Reviewer: Matt Forrest Without a doubt, Agatha Christie is one of the most prolific writers of not just her own, but any generation, turning out over 60 books. She was also a successful playwright, having penned the theatrical behemoth that isThe Mousetrap.  However, her flirtation with the stage didn’t stop there, ...

Writer: Craig Warner based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith Director: Anthony Banks Reviewer: Scott Matthewman Patricia Highsmith’s crime novels stand out because, unlike many of the genre, her murderers are less pursued by the police than by their own psyches. Nowhere is this set out more plainly than in the opening scene of this adaptation of her first novel, Strangers ...

Creator/Director: Gary Lloyd Reviewer: Donna Kelly Seen by over four million people in over 30 countries, it’s fair to say that Thriller Live is a crowd-pleaser. Now in its record-breaking ninth year in London’s West End, the musical extravaganza continues to draw big crowds and - much like Michael Jackson’s legacy - is showing no signs of slowing down. Celebrating ...

Writer: Ruth Rendell adapted by Simon Brett and Antony Lampard Director: Roy Marsden Reviewer: Dave Cunningham After a decade producing stage versions of thrillers by the Queen of Crime The Agatha Christie Theatre Company has had a revamp to become The Classic Thriller Company. One cannot quibble with the choice of the late Ruth Rendell as a ‘classic’ thriller writer. She was an ...

Writer: John Buchan Adapter: Patrick Barlow from an original concept by Simon Corble &Nobby Dimon Director: Maria Aitken Designer: Peter McKintosh Reviewer: Rich Jevons The main novelty of The 39 Steps, is that all roles in this farcical thriller are played by just four performers. Winning an Olivier Award for Best Comedy and after nine years in the West End, ...

Music: The Jackson Five and Michael Jackson Director and Choreographer: Gary Lloyd Reviewer: Ruth Jepson Queen have a musical about the state of music in the future, Abba have a musical about mother and daughter love, so what does Michael Jackson have a musical about? Himself of course. What story could ever hold a candle to the songs of Michael ...