Friends of a playwright who died at the weekend have promised they will turn his dream of an open-air theatre into a reality.

Adrian Bunting, 47, passed away on Saturday, just four weeks after being diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer.

Despite knowing he only had weeks to live, the well-known theatre writer and producer spent his time drawing up plans for Brighton Open Air Theatre (Boat).

Just days before he died, he brought together a group of friends and asked them to make it happen in his memory.

Speaking in a homemade video before he died, Adrian said: “I have done as much as I can over the past years to help people have platforms, help people produce work, help people make new things happen in theatre.

“One thing I genuinely believe that Brighton lacks is its own dedicated theatre space outside.

“This is a chance for us to make one, look after it and enjoy for the whole of the summer.”

Adrian had been involved in the city’s arts scene since the early 1990s when he established Zincbar cabaret.

He also wrote the play Kemble’s Riot, which is due to play at New York Fringe later this year.

The buildings project manager worked on the refurbishment of the Brighton Dome and hotels in Africa and the Caribbean.

The seasonal venue, which would be open to the public, is expected to cost £25,000 to create.

About £18,000 was left by Adrian in a legacy fund.

It is hoped the rest can be raised through a charity event at Brighton Dome, featuring comedians Stewart Lee and Tim Vine.

The site picked by Adrian for the community venture is the former bowling green in Dyke Road Park, Brighton.

The proposal will be discussed at an open meeting of the Friends of Dyke Road Park tonight at 6.30pm in the bowls hut.

Boat committee member James Payne, who first met Adrian in the early 1990s, said: “What we want is a site. We have all the building expertise and artistic input at the ready but it’s all pie in the sky until we have a site that we can work on.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said it was aware of several ideas for the park and it was currently listening to suggestions.