Charity screening of Dead Poets Society tonight

Friday 15 August 2014

Islanders are invited to commemorate the life of Robin Williams with a charity screening of Dead Poets Society in support of a Jersey mental health charity.

The American actor, who died on Monday at the age of 63, played English teacher John Keating in the 1989 film about a group of schoolboys who develop a love of poetry thanks to their teacher’s unconventional methods.

Many may remember one of Robin Williams’ character’s most famous quotes: "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary," or the start of the speech by his pupils “O captain, my captain” as they rise up to support him.

Gallery Magazine has teamed up with SecretCinema to stage the one-off screening tonight, which is to take place at 8pm across the UK.

Ben Davies, Director of Gallery, said: “When we saw what had happened to Robin Williams, and discovered that SecretCinema were planning this screening we wanted to ensure Jersey got involved.

“So many people grew up watching films with Robin Williams it seems appropriate to celebrate his life in this way, and to raise money for a charity like Mind Jersey which helps so many people across the island.”

Funds raised at the screening, which will take place at Jersey Museum, will go to Mind Jersey. Tickets are £20 per person, with Gallery supplying the popcorn. Audience members must be over the age of 15.

Ben said: “I was about 12 when Dead Poets Society came out and even though my school was nothing like the one featured in the film, it made an impression on me. It was one of Robin Williams’ more serious and inspirational films, which I think a lot of people will remember and will want to see again.”

Just 60 seats are available for the screening. Tickets are on sale through Gallery Magazine at www.gallery.je/deadpoets