Celebration of the life of film-maker and gay rights activist Derek Jarman at the Greenwich Theatre

A new solo play celebrating the life of film-maker and gay rights activist Derek Jarman will be honoured with a gala performance on what would have been his 80th birthday.

Although most famous for the film Sebastiane which tells the story of the martyrdom of St Sebastian and Blue which consists of a single blue shot, Mr Jarman’s work included painting, writing and gardening.

He was also a leading campaigner against Clause 28, which sought to ban the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools and worked to raise awareness of AIDS.

Diagnosed with HIV in 1986, he moved from London to Prospect Cottage in Dungeness where he planted his famous garden.

He died of AIDS-related illness in 1994, at 52 years old.

The new play, Jarman, written and performed by Mark Farrelly and directed by renowned cabaret performer Sarah-Louise Young brings Mr Jarman back into being for a passionate, daring reminder of the courage it takes to truly live while you’re alive.

The play flits from Dungeness to deepest, brightest Soho and into the heart of the iconoclastic artist.

The production celebrates Mr Jarman’s life, with the gala performance taking place on what would have been his 80th birthday.

Mr Farrelly grew up fearing Jarman, having watched him dying in the most harrowing way in newspaper photographs and on television.

Mr Jarman was one of the key public faces of the AIDS pandemic because of his courageous declaration of his illness in the late 80s, but to a teenage Mr Farrelly he was a dangerous image of contagion.

It wasn’t until Mr Farrelly read Mr Jarman’s diaries in 2018 that he saw the true Derek Jarman – vibrant, beautiful, witty, fun and relentlessly inspiring – and began to explore his films, writing, paintings and his garden in Dungeness.

Mr Farrelly said: “I hope that it brings Derek back into being for a new generation, as well as  earlier generations who may miss him, or have overlooked him.

“He died in 1994 aged just 52, but the power of his spirit, his sense of mischief, and his commitment to boundless authenticity are available for anyone to tap into.

“That is why Jarman exists – to give audiences the opportunity to encounter a remarkable spirit and to be astonishing.”

After the interval at Greenwich Theatre, a number of significant figures from Jarman’s life will be  speaking including human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, actor and composer Simon Fisher Turner, electronic music producer and performer Matthew Hodson.

Jarman will be raising money for the Terrence Higgins Trust.

The gala performance of Jarman will be at the Greenwich Theatre on January 31.