David Bowie Musical HEROES to Premiere at the IndigO2, March 2012

HEROES, an original production based on the works of David Bowie, arguably the most unique influence in popular music of the last 40 years, will get its Charity World Premiere at the IndigO2 on Sunday, 11 March 2012.

Note: Read an updated article here.

Proceeds are going to charities that use the Performing Arts to help young, underprivileged and disabled to learn new, life-enhancing skills.

HEROES will feature a cast of over 30 performers and a live band.

The 20+ songs featured include Heroes, Let's Dance, The Man Who Sold The World and The Jean Genie.

Bowie, who is one of Britain's most successful songwriters, rarely gives permission for his songs to be used and has never allowed them to be used in this way before.

"We could not really believe it when they gave us permission," said Deep Singh, who wrote the musical and produces. "His people had warned us that it was very unlikely that he would be interested and that he had been asked many times before."

Singh, a former screenwriter, believes that Bowie gave consent because he emphasised that his story was not a nostalgic recreation of the 1970s but was set in the future and aimed to show the timeless relevance of Bowie's lyrics.

"We did not want Mr Bowie to think it was going to be a tribute show, and that seems to have had an effect," Singh added. Mr Bowie's representatives have been incredibly supportive when we have asked them for things and yet hands-off in terms of letting us get on with the project."

It could be now. It may be our future. HEROES is set in a dystopian world created and controlled by the ruthless Smart Simon. With the ferocious Diamond Dogs patrolling to keep order, Starman, Tom, Genet and Blue Jean awake in a ‘prison cell’ of a world in which they are trapped - not knowing how or why they got there. It becomes clear that they have lost their identities... their souls. A vibrant young ‘dude’, David, infiltrates the cell, having tricked his way in through guile and original thought, determined to end their incarceration. In contrast to Smart Simon’s mindless mantra, David proclaims that they symbolise and embody all that he (we) finds heroic... their music, their originality and their creativity - exactly what the world is missing. In retaliation, Smart Simon offers them a wealth of material things and the glory of fame to entice them to stay. After grappling with temptation and self-doubt, they embrace their free will, examine their consciences and begin to re-discover who they really are. Finally the group reject the empty existence Smart Simon offers. Faced with the exposure of the vacuous material world he has created (in which he too has become a prisoner) Smart Simon breaks down. However, instead of seeking retribution, our re-born ‘Heroes’ offer him understanding, love, friendship and consequently redemption. They are ready to break out and free all others. They are all Heroes now, as are we... even if it’s just for one day.

For more information, visit www.heroesthemusical.com.