A dazzling spectacle of movement, music, and showmanship, MJ the Musical electrifies the stage with pulsing energy befitting the King of Pop himself. Directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, with a book by the acclaimed Lynn Nottage, this jukebox musical is a reclamation of Michael Jackson, the artist - the man who studied the greats, revolutionised genres, and shaped the future of pop culture. In a truly breathtaking sequence, we see him pay tribute to his own dance icons: Fred Astaire, Bob Fosse, and the Nicholas Brothers, a lineage of brilliance that underscores his legacy.
The show begins with Jackson in the final stages of rehearsals for his make-or-break Dangerous tour. The stakes are made abundantly clear - the tour is an artistic and financial high-wire act. What follows is a narrative that oscillates between past and present, revisiting Jackson’s tumultuous rise through the Jackson 5, his Motown years, and the pressures of fame that shaped his perfectionist tendencies.
It is, without a doubt, a visual feast. Seeing Jackson’s hypnotic, geometric dance moves unfold live, rather than through film or television, is an entirely different experience - one that underscores the precision of his artistry. Taking over the iconic bedazzled glove from Myles Frost is Jamaal Fields-Green. Every step, every fluid glide, every razor-sharp accent is embodied with uncanny accuracy by Fields-Green, oozing with magnetism. Having played the role across Broadway, the North American tour, and now London’s West End, Fields-Green doesn’t just imitate - he channels. The soft, fluting voice, the creamy, effortless vocals, and the smooth footwork - especially in numbers like Beat It, Billie Jean, and Smooth Criminal - make for a performance worth the ticket price alone. Not to mention, the reimagining of Thriller, transforming the number into a haunting carnival that vividly brings MJ’s psychological demons to life.
Yet MJ the Musical is not without its calculated omissions. By ending in 1992, the show sidesteps the more controversial aspects of Jackson’s life, notably the child abuse allegations and his increasingly eccentric public persona. These moments are given only faint nods, while the true antagonists of the piece are painted as the ever-hounding media. A press conference morphs into a horror sequence, journalists are portrayed as relentless villains, and an MTV documentary crew serves mainly as a vehicle for exposition rather than deeper scrutiny. It’s a perspective that has drawn critique, but one that aligns with the production’s vision - to spotlight Jackson’s artistry rather than litigate his legacy.
Supporting Fields-Green is a powerhouse ensemble of shape-shifting, high-energy performers with boundless stamina. Ashley Zhangazha skilfully switches between Jackson’s domineering father and his tour director, reinforcing the artist’s fraught relationships with male authority figures, while Mitchell Zhangazha delivers a superb performance as young Michael. Together, they create moments of both nostalgia and poignancy.From the technicolour brilliance of Paul Tazewell’s costumes to Natasha Katz’s dynamic lighting and the driving force of musical director Sean Green’s band, the production is a technical marvel.
And in light of the recent 2025 Grammy Awards discourse, MJ the Musical resonates even more deeply, raising questions about industry pressures, the lack of diversity, public expectations and human rights. Yet at its heart, the show delivers a hopeful message - it’s up to us to “make that change”.
One of the best shows in the West End right now, MJ the Musical is an exhilarating, spectacular tribute that celebrates a singular legend while reminding us why his music still moves the world.
MJ the Musical is currently playing at the Prince Edward Theatre.
★★★★☆ (4*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Matthew Murphy
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