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Performer for Blue Now blurred in movement with their arms up lit in blue light
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Blue Now

Artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman’s landmark final film, Blue, a reflection on life, love and loss, is given a live performance to mark World Aids Day.

More details for Queen Elizabeth Hall
Run time 1 hour 20 mins (approx)
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Blue (1993) was British artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman’s final feature film, completed shortly before his death in 1994.

31 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 with Travis Alabanza, Jay Bernard, Joelle Taylor, Russell Tovey, Simon Fisher Turner and Lucy Railton.

Blue features a continuous single shot of the colour blue, accompanied by a kaleidoscopic soundtrack of voices and music, as Jarman 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 film, he describes blue as the colour that, ‘transcends the solemn geography of human limits.’

Simon Fisher Turner, who created the original soundtrack, performs a new score, created in collaboration with cellist and composer Lucy Railton.

Directed by Bartlett, Blue Now’s cast includes Travis Alabanza, Jay Bernard and Joelle Taylor, who together deliver Jarman’s powerful words (previously voiced by Jarman himself, Tilda Swinton, Nigel Terry and John Quentin).

Blue Now is a 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

Director: Neil Bartlett
Producer: James Mackay
Performers: Travis Alabanza, Jay Bernard, Joelle Taylor and Russell Tovey
Sound and music: Simon Fisher-Turner, with Lucy Railton
Produced by Fuel

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 14+
Event information

Find out more about the event with our free programme.
View the programme

Blue portrait of Joelle Taylor with short hair and a collared shirt looking directly at the camera
Joelle Taylor, image credit: Basilisk Communications
View larger image 1 of 6. Blue portrait of Joelle Taylor with short hair and a collared shirt looking directly at the camera
Blue portrait of Russell Tovey with short hair and stubble looking directly at the camera
Russell Tovey, image credit: Basilisk Communications
View larger image 2 of 6. Blue portrait of Russell Tovey with short hair and stubble looking directly at the camera
Portrait of Simon Fisher Turner who is looking to the right rubbing their eye with their finger
Simon Fisher Turner, image credit: Basilisk Communications
View larger image 3 of 6. Portrait of Simon Fisher Turner who is looking to the right rubbing their eye with their finger
Blue portrait of Neil Bartlett looking directly at the viewer
Neil Bartlett, image credit: Basilisk Communications
View larger image 4 of 6. Blue portrait of Neil Bartlett looking directly at the viewer
Blue portrait of Jay Bernard wearing a white t-shirt looking directly at the camera
Jay Bernard, image credit: Basilisk Communications
View larger image 5 of 6. Blue portrait of Jay Bernard wearing a white t-shirt looking directly at the camera
Greyscale portrait of Lucy Railton who has long hair looking directly at the camera
Lucy Railton, image credit: Basilisk Communications
View larger image 6 of 6. Greyscale portrait of Lucy Railton who has long hair looking directly at the camera

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This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL). To book tickets for BSL interpretation, email [email protected] or call us on 020 3879 9555.

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This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre

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