Joe Orton: 50 Years On

Joe Orton (1933-1967) was a Leicester-born playwright whose life and work helped to define 1960s British culture. Known for his anarchic black comedies and sexually frank diary, Orton is a major postwar dramatist and a gay icon.

This project, led by Dr Emma Parker, marks the 50th anniversary of the premiere of Orton’s three major plays:

• Entertaining Mr Sloane (2014)
• Loot (2016)
• What the Butler Saw (2019)

The project also commemorates the 50th anniversary of his death in 2017.