Jarman at the King’s Head Theatre

A mighty spirit is about to reawaken. Yours.

Derek Jarman: film-maker, painter, gardener at Prospect Cottage, gay rights activist, writer…his influence remains as strong as it was on the day AIDS killed him in 1994. But his story, one of the most extraordinary lives ever lived, has never been told. Until now.

This vibrant new solo play from Mark Farrelly (Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope) brings Derek back into being for a passionate, daring reminder of the courage it takes to truly live while you’re alive. A journey from Dungeness to deepest, brightest Soho and into the heart of one of our most iconoclastic artists.

Jarman’s works include taboo-breaking films like Sebastiane, Jubilee and Caravaggio, pop videos for the Pet Shop Boys (It’s A Sin and Rent), his extraordinary borderless garden in Dungeness, his shocking last paintings, and his unforgettable final film Blue, consisting of a single continuous frame of blue and chronicling what it’s like to lose your sight…but never your artistic vision.

This novelistic, almost poetic nature of Jarman’s speech in this performance does much to bring forth the true essence of this complex person.  Performed and written beautifully by actor Mark Farrelly this monologue brings to life an LGBTQ+ activist who is often not given the spotlight he deserves.  Spanning most of his life span, this biography-style play incourages the audience to take a peak into Jarman’s life and motivations to bear witness to his lasting mark on the world.

The sound and lighting design complement the show well and the breaking down of the fourth wall helps keep the audience engaged and on the side of our protagonist, Jarman, making this feel like an intimate meeting of minds.  Humour is peppered throughout the play and yet it has moments of deep intensity that keeps the audience on their toes.  Farrelly’s performance is energetic throughout and the queer references and in-jokes are a delight to know.

It could do with a slight edit to help pick up some of the energy that is dropped in the middle show but thankfully this is resolved up by the end of the performance.  Jarman is on at the King’s Head Theatre until the 26th of August, tickets start from £15 and can be booked through the King’s Head Theatre website.

Tickets were gifted in exchange for review, all words and opinions are my own