The University of Leicester is to host a day of free screenings, talks and readings to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Joe Orton’s first stage play Entertaining Mr Sloane.
Joe Orton (1933-1967) was born in Leicester and the university holds the Joe Orton Archive which includes manuscripts, letters, programmes, photographs and personal memorabilia of Orton and his lover Kenneth Halliwell.
Entertaining Mr Sloane, Orton's 1964 satire on social and sexual hypocrisy, ignited controversy. It won the London critics' play of the year award.
Dr Emma Parker of the School of English at the University of Leicester said, “Orton’s work has been overshadowed by his life for too long. It’s time to focus on his achievements as a writer.”
The day will start with a rare screening of the 1968 ITV Playhouse production of Entertaining Mr Sloane starring Sheila Hancock and Edward Woodward.
Theatre director Nick Bagnall will discuss his 2009 production of the play which featured Imelda Staunton and Matthew Horne.
Novelist Jake Arnott, author of The Long Firm which was turned into a television drama, will consider Orton’s influence on contemporary writers.
Scholars Professor Simon Shepherd from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Dr Francesca Coppa from Muhlenberg College, USA will lead debates about the play.
The day will close with Joe Orton’s sister Leonie Barnett reading some of her brother’s “Edna Welthorpe” letters and other unpublished material.
The event will be held on Sunday (29 June) in the Peter Williams Lecture Theatre at the university from 10:30AM until 4:30PM.
Programme information is available from the University of Leicester web site. To reserve a ticket, e-mail [email protected].