REBEL REBEL

About the show

A utopia against violence – with songs by David Bowie For Ruhrtriennale, Ivo Van Hove creates a new music theatre with songs by David Bowie. Rebel Rebel, named after one of his most famous songs, plays in a deteriorating society, gangs of violent youths are terrorising the cities. Relationships of whatever sort are banned. Alienation and isolation are enforced by law. A young couple resists and creates a utopia of their own – people are stronger than any repressive regime. Because they love each other, they can prevail. Bowie's music thus becomes the soundtrack to a society on the brink. With Lazarus, David Bowie realized his dream of creating a musical – together with Ivo Van Hove, whom he had entrusted with directing the piece. Ten years later, Ivo Van Hove returns to Bowie’s musical cosmos with Rebel Rebel. Henry Hey, the music director, worked with Bowie on his album The Next Day and Lazarus, the musical. The multi-award-winning choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui takes on the challenge of translating violence, resistance and love into dance.