Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Tuesday 13th October - Doors 7pm
For one night only
Tuesday 13th October
Doors open 7.00pm // Skype and film 7.30pm
Join us downstairs in Theatr Colwyn, Wales' oldest operating cinema for a rare Ziggy Stardust screening preceded by a live Skype Q&A with Chalkie Davies.
Oriel Colwyn and Theatr Colwyn proudly present an ultra rare screening of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars to compliment the current Oriel Colwyn exhibition ‘Chalkie Davies: Creating the NME years’
David Bowie's last night as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon holds a special place in music history but is rarely shown in cinemas, don’t miss this one night opportunity to see it on the big screen at Theatr Colwyn.
In 1973, after years of novelty singles, flopped albums, and brushes with fame that had never quite delivered, David Bowie was finally at the top of the rock and roll world with his most outrageous creation yet, the outer space rock and roll messiah, Ziggy Stardust.
His breakthrough album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" about an alien who comes down to Earth to warn humanity of it's impending doom, only to fall victim to rock and roll excess, had made Bowie a household name, and a lightning rod for controversy. His flamboyant outfits and androgynous alien persona kept him in the public eye and under endless scrutiny.
Constant touring while remaining in character as Ziggy on and off stage eventually took its toll on Bowie as he soon would begin to fulfill his own prophecy of rock and roll overindulgence. Bowie knew that rock and roll suicide was the only way out of the self-destructive world he created. On July 3, 1973, live onstage at London’s Hammersmith Odeon Bowie announced the retirement of Ziggy Stardust
Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture captures all of the energy, the theatrics, and the electrifying rock of David Bowie in his prime as he performs his most daring persona one last time with the Spiders, who themselves had no idea this would be their last show with Bowie. The world of rock and David Bowie himself would never be the same again.
Welsh-born Chalkie Davies officially joined the Rock and Roll Circus in 1973 after photographing this very concert. He then worked as a staff photographer at the NME from 1975-79 producing some of the most iconic music images of the era, many of which are on show in our current exhibition.
Chalkie will be joining us on the big cinema screen via Skype from his home in New York City for a Q&A session before the film screening.
Send your questions for the Chalkie Q&A to Oriel Colwyn’s Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #AskChalkie
Circle tickets for the concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1973 cost £1.50
Tickets for this event are available for FREE - BUT we would like to respectfully suggest making a donation of at least the £1.50 original concert price for each ticket to help support the gallery’s ongoing work.
Anybody who is unable to donate can get a free ticket from Theatr Colwyn Box Office in person or by phone. 01492 577888