Acclaimed British solo play “JARMAN” to be staged in Hong Kong in January (with photos)
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the acclaimed British solo play "JARMAN" in January next year. The play is written and performed by renowned stage performer Mark Farrelly. It depicts the extraordinary life of the late British avant-garde artist Derek Jarman (1942 – 1994). The production has toured extensively in the United Kingdom (UK) in recent years, and is one of the nominees of the Best Solo Performance in the 2023 Off-West End Awards. The performance in Hong Kong will be the first time that Farrelly brings his work "JARMAN" to be staged outside the UK.
The solo feature of the play, Jarman, was an iconic British filmmaker, painter, gardener and writer. His film "Blue", which premiered at the Venice Biennale in 1993, not long before he died, was highly acclaimed. Farrelly wrote the "JARMAN" one-man play after reading Jarman's journals chronicling the last few years of his life. The production recounts the artistic spirit of Jarman with minimal set and props – a chair, a torch, some wrapping paper and a bedsheet. Farrelly captures the very soul of Jarman with florid script and physical movement, and employs light, darkness, silence and soundtracks to conjure up the rich visuals of Jarman's world. He also brings improvisation elements, and sometimes even interacts with attendees during the performance to spark the audience's imagination.
Farrelly is an actor and writer. He graduated from Jesus College of the University of Cambridge, and has acted in the West End of the UK and other overseas places over the years. He is the author of two hit solo plays, "The Silence of Snow: The Life of Patrick Hamilton" and "Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope". His recent productions include the two-handed play "Howerd's End" and solo play "JARMAN".
Solo Play: "JARMAN" by Mark Farrelly (UK) will be held at 8pm on January 26 and 27 (Friday and Saturday) and 3pm on January 27 and 28 (Saturday and Sunday) next year at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. It will be performed in English with Chinese surtitles. Tickets priced at $240 and $320 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/theatre/programs_1650.html. The programme contains adult content, and is recommended for people aged 14 and above.