Michael Starring Ben: The Magic of Michael Jackson

Michael Starring Ben comes to the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on Saturday 19 September, a tribute production built around Ben Bowman, who's billed as the UK's ultimate Michael Jackson tribute star. The whole thing is a high-energy concert celebrating the life and music of Michael Jackson, with Bowman taking the lead on vocals and dance.

Bowman's approach is a close one: he looks and sounds like the King of Pop, and he's spent years honing a routine so precise that audiences often feel they're watching Michael Jackson himself. It's not just a singer standing at a mic, either. He's backed by a live band, and the show brings in the costumes and the dance routines that became such a big part of Jackson's stage presence. The setlist pulls from the greatest hits of both Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, so you'll hear the early Motown sound alongside the solo records. Among the songs on the bill are 'Beat It', 'Billie Jean', 'Thriller', and 'Man in the Mirror'.

It's worth keeping in mind that this is a tribute production, not associated with or endorsed by the Michael Jackson Estate. The focus is on the performance and the music rather than an official retrospective. Tickets start from £26.50, and the show runs at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on Saturday 19 September.