Thriller in store for Michael Jackson fans as West End show arrives in Sunderland

Cleo Higgins and Eddy Lima from the cast of Thriller, at the Sunderland Empire Theatre.

Thriller Live is playing at the High Street West theatre all this week.

Direct from London’s West End, where it is now in its record-breaking seventh year, the show takes audiences on a visual and audio journey through the 45-year musical history of the King of Pop.

Thriller Live will be at the Sunderland Empire all this week.

At the helm of the show is Cleo Higgins, former lead singer of pop group Cleopatra and Will.i.am’s contestant in the 2013 series of The Voice.

Along with the cast, she performs two hours of hits from pop to rock and soul to disco.

As lead singer of Cleopatra, aged 13, Cleo was signed to Madonna’s Maverick label in the US. She had three Top 5 hits and two hit TV series.

She said: “I’m a huge Michael Jackson fan and I identify with him.

“I’m an Eighties baby – I come from the same era.

“When he died I literally cried every day for a year.

“His death reminded me how connected I felt to him as a person and musician, but I didn’t recognise how strong those links were until then.

“My favourite song I get to perform in the show is They Don’t Really Care About Us.

“I get to feel the energy Michael gave when he sang, when it was recorded.

“I get right into that zone and I feel every word.

“We celebrate his incredible legacy in Thriller Live. His songs will never die.”

Cleo is one of four lead vocalists who divide up Jackson’s catalogue of chart hits between them, including I Want You Back, ABC, Can You Feel It, Off The Wall, The Way You Make Me Feel, Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Billie Jean, Dirty Diana and Bad.

Tickets are available from 0844 871 3022 or online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland.