David Bowie and Enda Walsh co-production Lazarus to open in London in October

The European premiere of the stage musical ‘Lazarus’, co-written by the late David Bowie and long-time Galway International Arts Festival collaborator Enda Walsh, is opening in London next month.

'Lazarus' by David Bowie and Enda Walsh

Inspired by the book ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth’, ‘Lazarus’ premiered last November at New York Theatre Workshop, just a few weeks before Bowie's death. It tells the story of humanoid alien Thomas Newton, left stranded on earth and haunted by a past love. The show features new music written by Bowie, along with a back catalogue of favourites such as ‘Changes’, ‘Absolute Beginners’ and ‘Heroes’.

‘Lazarus’ was one of Bowie’s last projects before his death in January 2016. He made his final public appearance at the show’s opening in December 2015. It’s opening at King’s Cross Theatre in London next month.

Michael C. Hall performing in 'Lazarus'

Enda Walsh's Arlington

Bowie co-wrote the play with award-winning playwright Enda Walsh. Walsh called working with Bowie “a ridiculous honour”. He said he was aware of the graveness of Bowie’s illness throughout their collaboration. In fact, it was during this time the idea for his hit GIAF 16 play 'Arlington' came to Walsh: "Everyone was dying… one of my best friends died in September, my mum died in October and I was working with someone I knew was going to die," he said in reference to Bowie.

'Arlington', a co-production between Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival, is a compelling tale of people trapped and trying to connect in a dystopian, closely-monitored world; a strange and tender love story about hope in the face of death. Theatre publication The Stage, in its 5 star review, described Arlington as “tremendous", while The Guardian noted that “dance, art and poetry explode in Enda Walsh’s brave new world.” The play tours to the prestigious St. Ann’s Warehouse in New York City next year.

‘Lazarus’ is directed by Tony-award winning director Ivo van Hove, who wowed audiences at GIAF 16 with his play, ‘Song From Far Away’. The play is written by the Tony and Olivier Award–winning English playwright Simon Stephens ['The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night–Time'] and produced by the internationally acclaimed theatre group Toneelgroep Amsterdam. It has been hailed as “mesmerising” (New York Times), “gorgeous”, (Time Out), with Smit’s performance called “a tour-de-force” (The Observer).

'Lazarus' begins previews in London on 25 October and runs until 22 January 2017. Buy your tickets from King’s Cross Theatre.