LIFE can sometimes seem to be ‘a riddle wrapped in an enigma’.

Most of the time you think you have worked it out, other times you are left with a blank look of amazement or bewilderment on your face.

What life is for all of us is a journey, into the unknown but also into ourselves.

According to David Bowie: “The truth is of course that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing at the same time.”

This arriving and leaving is something which is all part of a new play called From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads.

The play written and directed by Adrian Berry, links David Bowie, one man’s search for the truth and mental health issues into the melt pot of drama.

Somerset County Gazette:

Fresh from a highly acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2017, and following a successful UK tour and London run, From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads is embarking on a new UK tour this spring.

Celebrating David Bowie, one of the greatest musical figures of all time, this fantastic production has now played over 100 shows to delighted and enthralled audiences.

From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads, follows Martin, a young man who lives in a small Northamptonshire village, struggles with mental health issues.

When he receives an unexpected gift on his 18th birthday, he goes to London following his obsession with Bowie where he is propelled on a surreal and thrilling journey.

He performs on the stage where Ziggy Stardust was born, finds himself in Bowie’s bedroom and is led on a treasure trail to discover the truth about himself and his family.

Somerset County Gazette:

What follows will change his life forever...

Director and writer Adrian Berry said: “This play is as much about Bowie as it is about Martin’s journey and mental health issues.

“It is strange we do not talk about mental health so it is interesting to challenge peoples assumptions in this way rather than give them a Juke box musical.

“Although he never saw the play, we did send David Bowie a copy of the script and while it was not an endorsement, he did email us back saying we could use his music for the play.

“When we started thinking about the show originally in 2015 our ambitions were to maybe do a little run in a London fringe theatre, 50 seats or so.

Somerset County Gazette:

“Now over 100 performances later, to be playing such beautiful and big houses at some of the most prestigious venues in the country is more than we ever dreamt of.

“The response has been unexpected but hugely welcome.

It’s still very recently that David passed away, so we hope we are serving his legacy in the best possible way.

“The one thing you can say about David Bowie is we will never see his like again.”

With a blistering soundtrack, and nods to Bowie’s heroes and influences, From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads is a theatrical road movie, thrillingly evoking Bowie’s London.

The production features Alex Walton (the lead actor in Suede’s Bowie homage ‘Night Thoughts’ film) and the voice of comedian Rob Newman as Bowie.

As many eager eyed pop fans or Bowie fans will know the title of the play From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads (which would take up 23 hr 21 mins to walk the 2,246.0 km) comes from Bowie’s hit song Life on Mars?.

On Wikipedia it states: “Bowie, at the time of Hunky Dory’s release in 1971, summed up the song as “A sensitive young girl’s reaction to the media.”

“In 1997, he added “I think she finds herself disappointed with reality... that although she’s living in the doldrums of reality, she’s being told that there’s a far greater life somewhere, and she’s bitterly disappointed that she doesn’t have access to it.”

Somerset County Gazette:

As you might have guessed Life on Mars? plays an important part in From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads, but Arian said he could not say what or how as it would ruin part of the play.

You will have to go and watch it see what it all means.

This play has been brought together by Adrian through personal experience.

Somerset County Gazette:

Adrian said: “As a teenager, after my parents separated I had an eating disorder.

“This is not something which is usually associated with boys or men.

“But recalling what happened to me and using my experiences it gave me a real perspective which I could draw from.

“After I got better, I did do voluntary work as a counsellor working with males who had an eating disorder.

“It (your body weight) is one of those things you can control through what you eat.

“For many it becomes an obsession.

“What we see with Martin is we take him on his journey to find his father.

“For him Bowie is his surrogate father. At the beginning he starts to write a letter putting Dear Dad, then crossing it out and putting Dear David.

“Martin wants to find out the truth about his family and we go on the journey with him.

Somerset County Gazette:

“A lot of people with mental health issues believe Bowie is he is their father.

“There are many faces of Bowie such as the period of Let’s Dance, Station to Station or Aladdin Sane or Black Star.

“He was very much a chameleon.”

Looking at what he hoped people would get from the play, Adrian said the ‘Bowie angle’ was a way of bringing people into the theatre who would not normally watch a play.

He said: “Hopefully people will learn more about Bowie and also go away talking about mental health.

“This is the first real play I have written about this issue, although I did do one called Jack Pleasure which was about a middle age man who worked as a coach driver and had a mid life breakdown and wanted to be a porn star.”

You can see From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads at the Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton at 7.30pm on Saturday, February 3.

Ticket cost full price from £13 and concessions from £11.

Buy tickets online at thebrewhouse.net or call the box office on 01823 283 244.