Talking Orton

The great playwright and gay activist, Joe Orton, would have been 90 years old this year.

Tragically, Joe's life was cut short at the age of 34, when his partner and lover, Kenneth Halliwell, bludgeoned him to death with 9 hammer blows to the skull.

9th August 2023 marks the 56th anniversary of Joe's murder and so we are commemorating and celebrating this brilliant, bold, original and uniquely talented British playwright with a week of his work and an evening of discussion led by our compere, local playwright and actor, Mark Burgess. We are delighted to welcome a panel of esteemed guests including:

Kenneth Cranham, one of Orton's favourite actors and the original 'Ruffian' in Ruffian on the Stair, he appeared in the first production of Loot and had a close association with Joe Orton - he was actually performing in Loot in the West End when Orton was killed.
Richard O'Callaghan who appeared in ITV's production of The Good and Faithful Servant (1967) with Donald Pleasance and Patricia Routledge - Orton was at the rehearsals.
Tyler Butterworth who appeared in BBC's What The Butler Saw with Tim West, Prunella Scales and Dinsdale Landon (incidentally, Kenneth Williams referenced Tyler's actor Dad, Peter Butterworth, as they were dining together the very night Joe was murdered)
Playwright Derek Howard, who will be reading excerpts from his play, Beyond Our Ken

Tickets are limited so do please book early to avoid disappointment!

Thu 10th August 2023 8:00PM

Tickets: £10.00