David Bowie stage show Lazarus boasts new songs that 'sound like classics'

Director Ivo van Hove also confirmed that Bowie will not appear himself

David Bowie's The Next Day was Mercury- and Grammy-nominated and caused collective critical pooling of saliva (Getty Images)

David Bowie fans can look forward to some new songs that “sound like classics” in his upcoming stage show Lazarus.

Belgian director Ivo van Hove has confirmed that the legendary singer-songwriter will not be appearing in the production, after opting to let his music do the talking instead.

Based on Bowie’s 1976 movie The Man Who Fell to Earth about alcoholic alien Thomas Newton, Lazarus has been co-written with Irish playwright Enda Walsh, who penned award-winning musical Once.

Some of his old songs are being “given a new skin” for the musical with fresh arrangements, but it is the tracks music-lovers are yet to hear that make Hove so excited.

“Some of the songs sound as if you have heard them for ever – like classics,” he told the BBC at the Olivier Awards last Sunday, where he won best director for A View From the Bridge.

“There are romantic songs – because his songs are deeply romantic – and there are songs about violence and the ugly world surrounding us. That’s what these new songs are about.”

Lazarus premieres at the New York Theatre Workshop in December this year and Hove says preparations are “far advanced”.

Elsewhere, Bowie is releasing a limited edition 7” picture disc of “Changes” for Record Store Day on 18 April.