2001 'Life on Mars' Rock Opera

Conceived by Aidan Roberts, David Hollywood and Liam Judson, 'Life on Mars' was a rock opera based on the songs of David Bowie.

Featuring songs taken from the albums Hunky Dory, Aladdin Sane, Ziggy Stardust and Diamond Dogs, the opera was performed exclusively at the Wentworth Falls School of Arts in March/April before a re-working for a season at the Newtown Theatre in Sydney in 2001. The songs provided the ingredients for a story about fame, alienation, popschmaltz and more.


Synopsis

Loosely based on themes within the songs of Bowie's early albums, Life on Mars follows the journey of twin brothers from childhood to adult life.



When I'm Five

Tom, a dreamer and poet who is content to dwell in the confines of his bedroom, whereas Big Brother is 'out there', alive in the world, thriving on the attention of others. They are raised by a single mum, who forms a close attachment to Tom.

Kooks

Big Brother draws Tom out of seclusion to the dingy nightclubs of Suffragette City. There, the young Tom, finds a receptive audience for his poetry.



Changes

Contracts are signed and the path to fame and fortune is paved.

In Act 2 we encounter the brothers many years later (1984). The strain of 'churning it out', of being a commodity, is taking it's toll on the poet. Big Brother observes the change in heart.



Is There Life on Mars?


The long suffering shadow to the star begins to emerge from his cocoon as a Jean Genie who 'loves to be loved'.


Ziggy

Tom now find himself disconnected from society. He withdraws further and further from reality.'Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do'.



Star

Background (by Director, David Hollywood)

In December 1999, Out of the Blue conducted its first music theatre workshop - Larger than Life. The song 'Life on Mars', was performed in the final performance by the participants, and it was around this time Aidan and I discussed the possibilities of developing a show based on Bowie's early music.

The idea was put on hold while Out of the Blue went headlong into its first major productions for 2000 - Jesus Christ Superstar and Gypsy. Both productions presented enormous challenges to the fledging company. Very different in style and content, the demanded huge levels of commitment, energy, talent and resources. All this would be achieved with little more than sheer goodwill and determination of the founding members.

The year 2000 saw Out of the Blue spread its wings and build a reputation for excellence across a range of performance styles.

Towards the end of 2000 a few of us got together in Aidan's bedroom to listen to Bowie's albums and see whether there might be a basis on which we could build a show. For some people, sprawled on the floor that night, it was their first encounter with Bowie's work.

A few weeks later, Liam and I paced the floor boards of his back verandah in Blaxland, fleshing out the story of two brothers. Life on Mars began to take shape.

We work-shopped the draft version over a number of months and test drove the results at Wentworth Falls School of Arts early in 2001.

Life on Mars has a rock opera base. There is no dialogue. The story unfolds through the flow of the songs. The songs are lyrically dense and dramatic. Life on Mars is 'popera'.

There are definite threads in Bowie's music - much of the early albums reflect events happening in Bowie's life at the times which has been useful in developing a framework for events in this show.

On a deeper level, the feelings of alienation expressed in 'Space Oddity' - the sense of the lone poet speaking to a world that cannot hear - the spectre of insanity and time - pervade this inspired body of work.

Link to:

Songs

Beauty and the Beast
Kooks
When I'm Five
Space Oddity
Changes
Wild-eyed Boy (excerpt)
Suffragette City
Star
Ziggy Stardust
Soul Love
Hang on to Yourself
Lady Stardust
Oh You Pretty Things
Life on Mars

INTERVAL

1984
Big Brother
Andy Warhol
Jean Genie
Lady Grniing Soul
Rock n Roll Suicide
Aladdin Sane
Time
Sweet Thing / Candidate
Rebel Rebel
Bewlay Brothers



Production Credits

DIRECTOR / DESIGNER David Hollywood

MUSICAL DIRECTOR Aidan Roberts

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER Jonathan Rosten

SOUND DESIGN Chris Miller, Sonlites

LIGHTING DESIGN Neil Martin

CONCEPT Aidan Roberts, David Hollywood and Liam

TOM Liam Judson

BIG BROTHER Tim Crew

MOTHER Rebecca Wallace

with

Evin Donohoe, Robert Hall

Joshua Mason, Fiona Murphy

Kelly Outzen, Tanya White

KEYS Aidan Roberts

GUITARS Scott Best, Tim Batson, Jon Hunter

DRUMS Murray Sheridan

LIGHTING OPERATORS Andrew Lobb, Erin Hambly

SOUND ENGINEER David Johnson

MAKE-UP DESIGN Katrina Hopkins

COSTUME The Art of Hollywood

Sarah Brest

CONSULTANT Stephen Doric

Additional choreography by Shari Veitch