“Secret” final project from David Bowie discovered hidden in his study

A “secret” final project from David Bowie has been made public for the first time after it was discovered locked away in his study in New York.

Following his death in 2016, Bowie’s last project was found alongside several stories he had written before his untimely passing at the age of 69, according to BBC News.

The project, called The Spectator, is described in his notes as an “18th century musical” set in London, which remained confidential before his death, even to his close collaborators.

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The Spectator is said to be set in the 1700s with a look at the “manners and fads” of London society at the time, playing on Bowie’s particular fascination with crime and punishment.

Made public for the first time, the notes from his final project have now been donated to the V&A Museum along with a larger archive of Bowie’s belongings and works.

The notes were discovered alongside stories of criminal gangs and a “notorious thief” named ‘Honest’ Jack Sheppard, according to BBC News, which have also been donated to the V&A.

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The musical had long been a dream project for Bowie, who had “always wanted to write for theatre”, he said in a 2002 interview with BBC Radio 4's John Wilson.

Notes on his final project were discovered inside a locked study that only Bowie and his assistant had access to, and were found written across post-it notes pinned to a wall.

Bowie’s final project is available to view, alongside the desk where he worked on it, at the V&A East Storehouse in Hackney Wick from September 13.

[Via BBC News]

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter