Bowie Musical - When David Bowie died in 2016, his parting gift was a final album, Blackstar, shaped by his cancer diagnosis and an acceptance of mortality. But in his final months, he had also started another project, described in his notes as an "18th Century musical".
Called The Spectator, its existence was unknown to even his closest collaborators – until the notes were discovered locked in his study in 2016. They have now been donated to the V&A Museum, with the rest of Bowie's archive. They show Bowie's fascination with the development of art and satire in 18th Century London, alongside stories of criminal gangs and the notorious thief ‘Honest’ Jack Sheppard. "Right at the very beginning, I really wanted to write for theatre," Bowie told BBC Radio 4's John Wilson in 2002.
Radiohead Revival - Radiohead have announced their first tour in seven years, after teasing it with a series of mysterious flyers that appeared in cities across Europe. The band will play four nights at London's O2 Arena on 21, 22, 24 and 25 November 2025, with other dates in Berlin, Bologna, Copenhagen and Madrid. Radiohead last played live in 2018. They recently rehearsed together and drummer Philip Selway stated, "After a seven-year pause, it felt really good to play the songs again and reconnect with a musical identity that has become lodged deep inside all five of us."
Arts Funding - The Lowry arts centre is looking to secure £10m needed for "critical" upgrades to keep it open, according to a council report. The Salford waterfront theatre and gallery has been invited to bid for £8.5m from Arts Council England's Creative Foundations Fund, but only on the condition a partner is found for the additional £1.5m. Salford City Council is set to decide whether it will provide the remaining cash at a meeting on 17 September.
The report said money would be spent on "urgent infrastructure needs" and would safeguard the future of the arts complex, which marks its 25th birthday this year. Lowry chief executive Julia Fawcett said the cash "will help us thrive for the next 25 years".
DeLorean Days - Back to the Future the Musical has landed its first UK tour. The show will open at the Bristol Hippodrome from 8 October 2026 to 21 November 2026 and will visit venues including Edinburgh Playhouse, Liverpool Empire, Milton Keynes Theatre, Sunderland Empire and the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.
It is produced by Colin Ingram, who said: “I’m so delighted that the DeLorean will be travelling 88 mph to all the main theatre cities in the UK so that we can bring this heartfelt spectacle of a show to those who haven’t seen it in the West End or want to see it again.” Back to the Future the Musical continues to run in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre, entering its 5th year in London.
Black’s Back - Oscar-winning lyricist Don Black is returning to the West End with a new revue show. In a tribute to the New York cabaret scene that has inspired him for decades, Black’s revue show, From The Heart, will run on 26 October and 2 November 2 at London’s Fortune Theatre. The show will star Britain’s Got Talent 2024 winner Sydney Christmas, Preeya Kalidas and Clive Rowe. They will be joined by two other performers and a surprise guest.
Farewell - Supertramp founder Rick Davies, who wrote and sang some of the rock band's hits, has died at the age of 81. The English-born vocalist and keyboardist died on Saturday, a decade after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, the band said. "As co-writer, along with partner Roger Hodgson, he was the voice and pianist behind Supertramp's most iconic songs, leaving an indelible mark on rock music history," a statement said. "His soulful vocals and unmistakable touch on the Wurlitzer became the heartbeat of the bands' sound."
(Jim Evans)
9 September 2025