Joe Ortons life and legacy celebrated in three East Midlands exhibitions
A renowned University of Leicester expert on playwright Joe Orton is involved in three public exhibitions about his life and work.
These mark the 50th anniversary of the death of the Leicester-born playwright whose archive is housed at the University of Leicester David Wilson Library. The Library also features a ‘ghost image’ of the writer created by the street artist STEWY.
Associate Professor in English, Dr Emma Parker (pictured), of the University’s School of Arts, has played a leading role in celebrating Orton’s legacy.
All three exhibitions use material from the Joe Orton Collection at the University of Leicester. They are:
- Crimes of Passion: The Story of Joe Orton at the National Justice Museum, Nottingham from 22 July - 1 October 2017. Curated by Dr Emma Parker (University of Leicester) and Bev Baker (National Justice Museum), with original commissioned artwork by artist David Lock (Joe Orton’s nephew).
- What the Artist Saw: Art Inspired by the Life and Work of Joe Orton at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, Leicester from 29 July - 22 October 2017. Curated by Dr Emma Parker (University of Leicester) and Dr Michael Petry (Museum of Contemporary Art, London), transfers from MOCA, where it ran 5 February - 4 March 2017. View the brochure for the exhibition.
- Breaking Boundaries: Joe Orton and Me at Soft Touch: Young People’s Arts and Heritage Centre and Pork Pie Library, Leicester from 9 August - 8 September 2017 (Tuesday - Saturday, 12-5pm)
- Joe Orton: 50 Years On project webpage
- Press release