Bowie Experience – Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Director Tim Wedlake

Commencing Countdown…the year is 1971, The Man Who Sold the World was a huge success two years ago and David Bowie is ready to introduce the world to one of his most famous personas Ziggy Stardust. Where would this premiere take place? The Friars Club in Aylesbury, where there is now a statue of Bowie where once he had performed. The music has returned but what about the majesty and the grandeur? In short: Yes!

The Bowie Experience as a collective is fantastic, each member a master of their craft: at the forefront and performing as Bowie himself is leading man Oliver Slee. A commanding and captivating presence but a compassionate one also, he shares his stage and his spotlight with the band around him often pointing and gesturing to them when it is their moment to be front and centre. Slee states in an interview that he studied hours of footage of Bowie to master his mannerisms and it shows: every persona has its own style, from Ziggy Stardust to Halloween Jack to the Thin White Duke, he truly embodies them.

Even when not on the stage due to his numerous wardrobe and persona changes, we are kept entertained by the band. Special mention has to go to Tim Wedlake the lead guitarist and musical director who has many moments in the spotlight with powerful and riveting solos, and Emily Westwood, a saxophonist and background vocalist who gets to show off her musical prowess with a stunning solo and what can only be described as a battle of the bandmates against Tim Wedlake. Charlotte-Elizabeth Leighton also deserves a mention: for much of the performance she remains in the background, adding vocals and percussion to many songs but during Under Pressure she explodes into the spotlight with an astounding vocal range while duetting with Slee.

Though the performance on stage needs to be the highlight, it wouldn’t happen without the incredible work of the behind-the-scenes production team, in particular, Luke Wade the visual designer who has put together an accompanying film of visuals for each song that adds to the atmosphere and invokes imagery from the original release of the songs; the newspaper headlines during Life on Mars and the introductory video to Diamond Dogs are particularly impressive. Zac Leighton’s lighting design adds to the atmosphere on stage with perfectly timed lighting changes. The vibrant red lights appear for the arrival of Ziggy Stardust and the beginning of Life on Mars, and the swap to blue lights in time with the lyric “blue, blue, electric blue” from the song Sound and Vision. A final mention has to be for Karen Smith, the tour dresser who might be the most integral part of the production team, assisting with the numerous costume changes throughout the performance and making them happen in record time so that Bowie is never away from the stage for long.

The setlist is an extensive trip down memory lane showcasing all of the classics, songs that everyone knows and loves, and introducing some lesser-known tracks that may act as the beginning of a new love affair with Bowie’s music. Highlights include the iconic Changes, the vibrant Let’s Dance and the powerful Golden Years. From the die-hard fan who has seen and heard it all, to the next generation of fans just learning to love Bowie, this performance is worth watching as there is something for everyone. This group performance, and especially Oliver Slee, serves as an admirable torchbearer to keep Bowie’s music at the forefront of the musical landscape and in the ears of music lovers everywhere.

Reviewed on 10 June 2023