David Bowie and Enda Walsh co-production Lazarus to open in London in October
26 September 2016
Rapturous response and standing ovation for star-studded Lazarus European premiere.
The New York Theatre Workshop production of 'Lazarus' by David Bowie and Enda Walsh enjoyed its European premiere in London last night, 8 November at the King's Cross Theatre.
Inspired by the novel 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' by Walter Travis and starring Michael C Hall (star of the TV series Dexter), the musical, which has been playing to packed houses since previews began in late October, received a rapturous response and standing ovation from its London audience.
Lazarus Musical
'Lazarus' premiered in New York in December 2015, just before David Bowie died in January 2016. His last public appearance was at the show's opening night in New York.
Enda Walsh
The London premiere was attended by many stars of stage and screen, including Playwright Enda Walsh, who was accompanied by his wife Jo Ellison (Fashion Editor, Financial Times) and their daughter Ada Walsh.
Irish actor Charlie Murphy, who starred in Walsh's Galway International Arts Festival 2016 hit play 'Arlington' in July, was also in attendance.
It was recently announced that 'Arlington', a Landmark Productions and GIAF production which premiered at the Festival this summer, will have its New York premiere at St. Ann's Warehouse in May 2017 and Murphy said she was looking forward to revisiting her role in the US next May.
Actor Eileen Walsh, currently filming the hit BBC comedy Catastrophe, and who featured as the voice in Enda Walsh's 'Kitchen', which also premiered at GIAF 2016, was in attendance with her husband, the artist Stuart McCaffer. Eileen also starred in the original production of Walsh's 'Disco Pigs' opposite Cillian Murphy.
Also enjoying the night was fellow Irish playwright Martin McDonagh. Druid's production of his play 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane' opens in Los Angeles next week.
'Lazarus' is directed by the Flemish Tony and Olivier Award winning sensation Ivo van Hove. Galway audiences enjoyed van Hove's work this summer when he directed Simon Stephens' play 'Song From Far Away'. Dutch designer Jan Versweyveld, who has been van Hove's creative partner for decades, is Scenic and Lighting Designer for 'Lazarus'. Versweyveld also designed 'Song From Far Away'.
Early reviews for the show have been very strong, with the Financial Times, The Stage and The Independent each giving the production four star reviews. The Independent's Paul Taylor praised the 'knock out performances and the Belgian maestro's (director van Hove) superlatively staged production' while The Stage described 'Lazarus' as 'stunningly staged'.
King's Cross area is under major redevelopment and regeneration in recent years. The King's Cross Theatre opened in December 2014 to house the Olivier Award winning 'The Railway Children' and, in the summer of 2016, the producers constructed two additional temporary spaces including a 1,000 seat structure specifically for 'Lazarus'. (It is amazing.)
The Donmar Warehouse (after NT, the best producing house in London) are performing 'The Shakespeare Trilogy' in another temporary space right beside 'Lazarus'. The whole area has transformed in last 18 months into a really buzzing neighbourhood.
'Lazarus' runs until 22 January 2017 at the King's Cross Theatre, London. For tickets, see: King's Cross Theatre.
'Arlington' runs from 3-28 May 2017 at St. Ann's Warehouse, New York. For tickets, see: St. Ann's Warehouse.
Photo shows Michael C Hall, Ivo van Hove, David Bowie, Cristin Milioti and Enda Walsh at the curtain call following opening night in New York.
