“People don't want a recital; they want a show”
David Bowie
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The best tribute show ever
With his 26 studio albums, 2 soundtrack albums and 128 singles it's almost impossible to please every Bowie fan but this show manages to pull of a remarkable feat by presenting the huge range of creativity and brilliance of Bowies artistic sound and vision with so much love and care that you are guaranteed to leave on a joyous high.
The show presents 27 Bowie songs leading you through his whole career with amazing visuals, dancers staging and costumes. Starting with the 1969 hit “Space Oddity” and finishing with “Lazarus” before a triumphant encore version of “Heroes” every era of Bowie is perfectly imagined.
The live band is super talented with standouts Laura Browne on lead guitar and Damon Oliver on Saxophone. With additional sound craft by creative director Simon Gwilliam the accuracy to the original songs is mind blowing. Simon's musical and visual creativity is boundless.
Bowies vocal range and different styles were in the hands of three brilliant classically trained singers, with Elliot Rose having a triple octave range, covering the 27 songs performed allowing each one showing off their own talents, either solo or as a duet as well as doing justice to Bowies emotional style.
The costumes are artistically masterful. Cathy Kelly and Rebecca Martin have created unique art looks that not only are visually stunning but capture the spirit and moment of each song. Highlights for me include the dancer dress in “Rebel Rebel” (your face is a mess), Singers Sian Crowes dramatic costume for “Wild is the Wind”, the bright red retro TV heads and yellow suits for “Sound and Vision” “Scary Monsters” or the meticulous attention to detail for the 1970s “Soul Train” staging.
The hypnotic and spellbind visuals using large video panels perfectly complement the staging reflecting each stage of Bowies creative life meticulously. Standouts here include “Ashes to Ashes”, “Under Pressure” and “I'm afraid of Americans” often interpreting the original Bowie video and style with flair and imagination.
"This is not radio, but colour TV” and Creative director Simon Gwilliam has clearly maintained that belief as the heartbeat of this glorious production.
This is a real treat. With so many highlights I worry I may have missed something as hit after hit stirred up so many emotions Joy, sadness and wonder.
It's a giddy ride that will have you going down a Bowie rabbit hole the moment you get home.
It's a shame The Bowie Show is not endorsed by the David Bowie Estate, I like to think if David was in the audience he would be impressed and touched by this tribute, I know I was and can't recommend it enough.
All kooks should get a ticket while you still can!
West End premiere
LYRIC THEATRE
Shaftesbury Avenue
Monday 10 February, 2025 at 7.30pm
plus UK tour: www.thebowiecollective.com
Saturday 1 February
at 7.30pm
BATH
Bath Forum
Sunday 2 February
at 7.30pm
BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth Pavilion
Monday 3 February
at 7.30pm
LEICESTER
De Montford Hall
Tuesday 4 February
at 7.30pm
NORTHAMPTON
Derngate
Monday 10 February
at 7.30pm
LONDON
Lyric Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue
Tuesday 11 February
at 7.30pm
GUILDFORD
GLive
