Rock'n'Roll Alien - The Bowie Show

As a spectacular homage to the Thin White Duke, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Alien - The Bowie Show will take some beating. Originally seen this year at the Golders Green Hippodrome, it culminates its tour with a triumphant show in the West End’s Adelphi Theatre.

The Adelphi’s resident show Back To The Future would have been a handy title for this extravaganza directed by Simon Gwilliam with its blend of old songs and modern imagery. This kaleidoscopic celebration of David Bowie's multifaceted artistry transcends the conventional boundaries of tribute performances, offering an immersive experience that resonates equally with both die-hard fans and newcomers alike sat around us.

Between the projections, costuming, choreography and acting, the visual elements of the production are at times nothing short of jaw dropping. Billy Gwilliam's video design envelops the stage in a dynamic tapestry of imagery, drawing inspiration from Bowie's own ventures into film and visual art. These projections, combined with Rebecca Martin's inventive costume designs, create a vivid tableau that mirrors Bowie's chameleonic transformations throughout his career. Notably, the dancers donning orange suits with red TV-screen heads during "Sound and Vision" evoke the techno-alternative quirkiness of the era, adding a layer of visual intrigue to the performance.

Choreographer Sophie Quay orchestrates the movements of the eight-member dance troupe with precision and flair. Each dancer contributes to the narrative arc of the show, with Jordan Boury's performance during "Jean Genie" earning particular acclaim for its electrifying energy and gender-bending audacity. Since the Golders Green show, the troupe has grown in confidence and are a much tighter unit who - through movement and costume - bring a unique physicality to many of the numbers.

The Adelphi’s acoustics are a few notches above that of the Hippodrome which adds much-needed layers and depth to the overall sonic impact. Musically, the five-piece band delivers a robust and faithful rendition of Bowie's classics, with occasional reimaginings that breathe new life into familiar tunes. The inclusion of a toy piano in "Life on Mars" adds a whimsical touch, while the haunting rendition of "Blackstar" serves as a poignant homage to Bowie's final opus. The transitions also are much improved; what seemed a series of connected vignettes before now seems to blend more smoothly.

As with any evening like this, much comes down to the interpretation of the classic works. From the outset, the show asserts its intent to honour Bowie's legacy without resorting to mere impersonation. The trio of vocalists—Sian Crowe, Greg Oliver, and Elliot Rose—navigate the extensive repertoire with a blend of reverence and individuality, albeit with varying levels of ability and delivery.

Rather than mimicking his distinctive timbre, they infuse each song with their own unique interpretations, capturing the essence of the original while offering fresh perspectives. Crowe's rendition of "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" in particular stands out for its emotional depth and raw vulnerability. Strangely in a show with such a large cast, there are no backing singers with the additional vocals provided by the band adding little in the way of overall resonance.

In its current form, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Alien is a vibrant and heartfelt tribute that captures the essence of Bowie's artistic spirit. While there is room for refinement—particularly in terms of the singing —the production's ambition and creativity shine through.