Fifty years ago an emerging superstar arrived in the Fine City to thrill music lovers.

At the height of the Ziggy Stardust Tour, David Bowie arrived in Norwich on May 21, 1973, to play two sold-out sets at the Theatre Royal.

Flanked by the Spiders From Mars, Bowie ripped through classic tracks including The Jean Genie, Moonage Daydream and Suffragette City at the peak of his glam rock pomp.

Norwich Evening News: The iconic David Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust pomp of the early 1970sThe iconic David Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust pomp of the early 1970s (Image: PA Wire)

As guitarist Mick Ronson's pummeling guitar riffs shook the venue, the excitement was too much for some, with four women and a man being treated by ambulance crews after fainting.

Both shows sold out in record time for the tour, with Bowie and the band arriving on stage submerged in red light to the sound of the soundtrack from A Clockwork Orange.

Norwich Evening News: The programme from David Bowie's 1973 performance at Norwich Theatre RoyalThe programme from David Bowie's 1973 performance at Norwich Theatre Royal (Image: Robert Pond)

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Bowie was said to be wearing a shimmering costume, which changed at the interval, while Ronson was wearing black patent trousers and high-heeled shoes.

City music fan Robert Pond, 68, was there soaking up the "electric" atmosphere.

Norwich Evening News: Norwich music fan Robert Pond was there when Bowie hit the stage at the Theatre RoyalNorwich music fan Robert Pond was there when Bowie hit the stage at the Theatre Royal (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Pond recalls: "I was at the later performance, it was a great gig.

"Some girls were screaming, but audiences had begun to give performers more respect by then so it wasn't a Beatles situation where you couldn't hear the band.

"Some say Bowie's vocals were better in the early show, he seemed to play more from the Ziggy album in the first half and more from Aladdin Sane after the interval."

Norwich Evening News: The Evening News review of the nightThe Evening News review of the night (Image: Newsquest)

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Other tracks played that evening included a cover of the Rolling Stones' Let's Spend the Night Together and rare outings for Quicksand and Memory of a Free Festival from Hunky Dory and Bowie's second self-titled album.

Norwich Evening News: The introduction in the programme for David Bowie's 1973 Norwich Theatre Royal gigThe introduction in the programme for David Bowie's 1973 Norwich Theatre Royal gig (Image: Robert Pond)

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It was not the first time Bowie had played in Norwich, appearing as David Bowie and the Buzz at Orford Cellar seven years earlier, which is marked today by a blue plaque in Red Lion Street.

Norwich Evening News: A flyer for the Norwich Theatre Royal gigA flyer for the Norwich Theatre Royal gig (Image: Norwich Theatre Royal)

The gig came shortly after the release of the Aladdin Sane album, which also celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023, and took place as part of the theatre's eight-day Super Star Carnival event which also featured Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Bowie's setlist

Norwich Evening News: Norwich Theatre Royal, which was a stop on the Ziggy Stardust tour in 1973Norwich Theatre Royal, which was a stop on the Ziggy Stardust tour in 1973 (Image: Newsquest)

Following the gig, Mr Pond jotted down the setlist and this is how he remembers it.

Hang On To Yourself

Ziggy Stardust

Watch That Man

Quicksand

Life On Mars?

Memory of a Free Festival

Moonage Daydream

Changes

Space Oddity

The Jean Genie

Time

The Width of a Circle

Let's Spend the Night Together

Drive-In Saturday

Panic In Detroit

Suffragette City 

Cracked Actor

Rock 'n' Roll Suicide