Blue 1993 was British artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman’s last feature film. Thirty years after it was made, British director Neil Bartlett and actor Russell Tovey have worked together to create a special live performance of the film.
Blue features a continuous single shot of the colour blue, as he reflects on his AIDS-related illness, impending death, and loved ones lost to the virus.
Due to this illness, Jarman became partially blind – his vision was often interrupted by shades of blue light. In the poignant film, he describes blue as the colour that, ‘transcends the solemn geography of human limits.’
Directed by Bartlett, BLUE NOW’s cast includes Travis Alabanza, Jay Bernard, Joelle Taylor who will together deliver Jarman’s powerful words (previously voiced by Jarman himself, Tilda Swinton, Nigel Terry and John Quentin). Simon Fisher-Turner, who created the original soundtrack, will compose a new score to perform live on the night.
BLUE NOW is unique opportunity to reflect on the impact of the British AIDS epidemic, and the importance of creating space for compassion, rage and poetry in the face of prejudice and oppression.
Live performances commissioned by WePresent by WeTransfer in association with Fuel and Basilisk Communications
Live performances commissioned by WePresent by WeTransfer in association with Fuel and Basilisk Communications
Directed by Neil Bartlett
Performed by Travis Alabanza, Jay Bernard, Joelle Taylor and Russell Tovey
Sound and music by Simon Fisher-Turner
Produced by Fuel
BLUE NOW is a touring production presented at Brighton’s Theatre Royal as part of Brighton Festival (7 May), Turner Contemporary, Margate (13 May), HOME Manchester (21 May), and Tate Modern (27 May).
The performance will be BSL interpreted by Jacqui Beckford.
Seating is a combination of chair and floor seating, allocated on a first come, first served basis. There is space for wheelchair users.
All Tate Modern entrances are step-free. For this event please enter via the Blavatnik Building on Sumner Street on the South side of the building. A lift will be available to take you to the event space on level 5.
The rest of the building will be closed.
- Fully accessible toilets are located on every floor on the concourses
- A quiet room is available to use during the event
To help plan your visit to Tate Modern, have a look at our visual story. It includes photographs and information about what you can expect from a visit to the gallery
For more information before your visit:
- Email hello@tate.org.uk
- Call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 – option 1 (daily 09.45–18.00)