Islington Tribune: Toyah Unveils Plaque to Derek Jarman
Toyah unveils plaque to ‘Jubilee’ film director and LGBT activist Derek Jarman
A plaque has been unveiled marking the former residence of the artist, film director and activist Derek Jarman.
An outspoken campaigner for gay rights and HIV/Aids awareness, Jarman is renowned for directing films such as Sebastiane in 1976 and Jubilee in 1978, now adapted into a stage play.
Actress and singer Toyah Willcox, who made her screen debut in the original Jubilee film 40 years ago, was given the honours of unveiling the plaque yesterday (Thursday) at 60 Liverpool Road, where Jarman lived from 1967-69.
Toyah told the Tribune: “In the past 50 years gay politics has come along in leaps and bounds. It has developed into gender fluidity and trans fluidity which weren’t so defined or certainly weren’t public 40 years ago.
“All of us flourish in good, strong communities and one of the blessings of Derek’s life was he had a good community around him. But, it had to be a secret community because of the restrictions on being openly gay back then. What Jubilee addresses today is Derek’s collage of images, colours and ideas but the politics are brought up to date by young actors who are gender fluid and know what it’s like to live in a straight cis world.”
• Continue reading at the Islington Gazette.
