THIS journey through the musical career of Michael Jackson, from long before his voice had broken to History, the album with the moral conscience, is the concert you would like to hear from the man himself.

The structure is a bit confusing at first – not least because former Pop Idol contestant Hayley Evetts keeps materialising on stage as none other than herself. But, once you get the idea that this is basically a gig with the odd piece of (one-sided) context thrown in, it’s easy to relax and enjoy the show.

Thriller Live is a celebration of Jackson’s music and dance, without any of the uncomfortable bits, so for once it is possible to appreciate his genius without wondering about oxygen tanks or fairgrounds in the back garden. And when his body of work, though a very abridged version, is presented altogether like this, it brings home what an unusually talented performer he is.

The first half deals with the era of the Jackson Five and The Jacksons, culminating in a seamless medley from the Off the Wall album.

Eleven-year-old Tyler McLean, as the young Michael, warmed into the singing of early numbers I Want You Back and Ben, but his dancing was impressive from the start. Jackson’s adult hits were divided between a range of performers – some imitating the Peter Pan of pop, others singing as themselves.

Evetts’s voice, as the only lead female vocalist in the cast, stood out.

An exciting second act brought a series of music videos, performed on stage by a team of dancers and singers who transformed from ghoulish beings in Thriller to eighties street kids for Bad. The most dazzling moment was the recreation of the Smooth Criminal speakeasy, with a robotic white-suited Michael Antony Duke making the Moonwalk look easy.

The only drawback is that, even with both male and female singers to cover his vocal range, nobody ever quite matches up to Jackson himself.