David Bowie attends the Lazarus musical premiere

David Bowie made his final public appearance at the premiere of the musical Lazarus on 7 December 2015.

The event took place at the New York Theatre Workshop, at 79-83 East 4th Street in Manhattan, New York City.

The director was Ivo van Hove, and the play starred Michael C Hall, Cristin Milioti, Sophia Anne Caruso and Michael Esper.

It was written that he looked so well, so healthy. But behind the podium he collapsed from exhaustion. It was then that I realised that it may be the last time I would see him.

I have known for about a year. We began collaborating on our show, Lazarus, and at some point he took me to one side to say that he wouldn’t always be able to be there due to his illness. He told me he had cancer, liver cancer.

The cast didn’t know all that time, and I suspect that the musicians with whom he recorded Blackstar didn’t know either. He made every effort to complete those two projects on time, not to let his illness win.

The first preview of Lazarus took place in November 2015. The initial theatre run was intended to end on 17 January 2016, but was extended to 20 January. The New York City’s mayor’s office declared the final day ‘David Bowie Day’ in honour of the late musician.