I've Got Drama, Can't Be Stolen

.

David Bowie's highly productive final year brought not only one of his finest albums - the remarkable Blackstar, complete with fabulous videos for the singles of Blackstar and Lazarus - but also a Lazarus stage play.

Lazarus is based partly on The Man Who Fell to Earth, by Walter Trevis which was made into a film starring, of course, David Bowie.

.

The stage version, written by David Bowie and Enda Walsh, adopts key elements from The Man Who Fell to Earth and numerous Bowie songs to weave a different story about Thomas Newton, the starman isolated on Earth who is desperately trying to find a way back to his extraterrestrial family.

Lazarus moved from New York to London's King's Cross Theatre for December 2016 - January 2017.

.

.

I saw it in December 2016 and throughly enjoyed the experience. The performances were strong, the songs well-chosen (Valentine's Day was a particular highlight) and the storyline laced with ambiguity. I would recommend that anyone who is thinking of going to see Lazarus should do so armed with at least a working knowledge of The Man Who Fell to Earth, or run the risk of being completely lost in a confusing tale. This most certainly not a Bowie version of Mamma Mia.

This trailer gives a little indication as to what to expect.



The next video features Sophia Anne Caruso singing Life on Mars.



The evening performance on Sunday 15 January will be filmed for posterity and - hopefully - a Blu-ray and/or DVD release.

For further details, head for the official Lazarus website.

Further Bowie-related material will follow here over the course of the next few days...