BERLIN — The immersive David Bowie concert experience “Stage” will make its world premiere on Feb. 14 at Berlin’s Uber Arena during the Berlin Film Festival, marking an unusual addition to the European film event’s alternative programming.
The production brings together previously unseen concert footage of Bowie with immersive sound and lighting. It is built around recently discovered and restored material from the 1978 Isolar II World Tour, when the musician performed songs from his album “Heroes.”
Presented in association with the Berlinale, the project is a collaboration between Rob Hallett’s Wonderworld, the David Bowie Estate and documentary filmmaker Brett Morgen. Morgen discovered the original camera negatives while working on his Grammy Award-winning film “Moonage Daydream.”
The experience features a three-screen presentation, combining large-scale projections and transparent LED screens with a detailed lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe. The renowned lighting designer has previously worked with the Rolling Stones and Elton John.
The production also features a custom sound mix created by Academy Award winner Paul Massey, whose credits include “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Michael” and “Moonage Daydream.”
Using advanced 7.1 surround technology and spatial audio design, “Stage” is intended to place audiences at the centre of a live David Bowie concert experience.
Tricia Tuttle, director of the Berlinale, said the festival provides a setting where cinema, art and new storytelling formats come together.
“The Berlinale is a place where cinema, art and new forms of storytelling intersect. It’s like a dream come true: Bowie, Brett Morgen, a world-class sound and light team all coming together in the city’s premiere music arena. To have this world premiere in Berlin, a city so closely connected to David Bowie, makes the experience especially meaningful,” Tuttle said.
Rob Hallett, founder of Wonderworld and former president of AEG International, described the production as an exceptional opportunity to present previously unseen concert material.
“David Bowie has bestowed upon us an extraordinary treasure — an unprecedented concert experience that has yet to be witnessed. Working hand-in-hand with David Bowie’s Estate and Brett Morgen, we are ensuring this experience is 100% faithful to his legacy while making his genius accessible to global fans and a new generation,” Hallett said.
Morgen is also scheduled to be a headline speaker during the Berlinale’s European Film Market talks program. Additional details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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