Stage, an unreleased 1978 David Bowie concert film, will be remounted as an immersive, multi-screen live show premiering in Berlin in February 2027.
Originally shot by David Hemmings, Stage captured Bowie’s 1978 tour in support of Low and “Heroes,” which he dubbed the “Isolar II World Tour.” Hemmings specifically captured Bowie’s three shows at Earl’s Court in London in June 1978; per The Guardian, Bowie intended for the film to be played in unorthodox spaces, including music venues as a potential alternative to touring. Bowie ultimately released Stage as a live album in September 1978, and halted his touring plans until 1983. “I simply didn’t like the way [Hemmings’ footage] had been shot,” Bowie recalled in a 2001 interview with Uncut. “Now, of course, it looks pretty good and I would suspect that it would make it out some time in the future.”
Now, Moonage Daydream director Brett Morgen has adapted footage from Hemmings’ original film to create a new work, also titled Stage. Morgen, who originally conceived of the project in 2018 when going through Bowie’s archives for Moonage Daydream, spent years remastering Hemmings’ 35mm footage, providing meticulous color grading, relighting, and hand painting and configuring the film for multiple screens.
The immersive new project will debut at the Uber Arena in Berlin — a short trip across town from Hansa Studios, where “Heroes” and portions of Low were recorded — on February 14th, 2027. More shows will be announced in the coming months. The event will feature a lighting show from Patrick Woodroffe and immersive audio mixed by Paul Massey, along with elaborate LED displays, creating an atmosphere akin to a full-scale rock concert. Rob Hallett’s Wonderworld and the David Bowie Estate are also listed as collaborators on the project.
An official teaser of the project is out now. Watch it below, and revisit our review of Morgen’s dazzling 2022 documentary Moonage Daydream.
