Joe orton book covers

Art inspired by the life and work of joe orton at new walk museum and art gallery, leicester, 2017 looted inkjet paper collage, 458 cm x 267 cm with paintings. The introduction, footnotes, photographs, etc are very interesting and informative. John kingsley orton 1 january 1933 9 august 1967, known under the pen name of joe orton, was an english playwright, author and diarist. Joe orton book cover collages friends of islington museum. Despite its success in performance, and being hailed by sir terence rattigan as the best first play hed seen in thirty odd years, it was not until the london production of loot in 1966 less than a year before joe orton s untimely death that theatre audiences and critics began to more fully appreciate the originality. Islington museum at finsbury library has four original. Three prints featuring library book covers altered by orton and halliwell, an act of vandalism for which they were famously jailed. Why i blame myself for the murder of sixties playwright joe. Oct 12, 2011 joe orton and kenneth halliwells defaced book covers in pictures. Malicious damage tells the story surrounding the crimes of orton and halliwell and, for the first time at islington museum, offers the opportunity to view all of the surviving doctored book covers along with other material reflecting the life and work of the pair. They were found guilty of theft of library books and defacing the library book covers by adding alternative images from other sources. I could relate to the theatre parts of the book and the characters, the look into ortons family life i found fascinating but what i found missing in the early sections was his interaction with his lover, kenneth halliwell.

The life and crimes of joe orton and kenneth halliwell in. The now infamous doctored book covers form the joe orton collection held at. Orton claimed that their actions were a protest against the poor choice of books available in public libraries. For example joe orton and kenneth halliwell were only in the borough for 15 years but created a cult. Nov 04, 2009 orton and halliwell first came to the public attention not as writers but through an elaborate and extended prank played out at their local library, altering book covers and adding new blurbs to dust jackets. The subversive genius of joe orton artist christian furr who remastered the book covers and is also selling artwork in aid of the statue at an auction in shoreditch on 19 november said the. They have robbed the bank next door to the funeral parlour and have returned to hals home to hideout. Joe orton and kenneth halliwells defaced book covers in pictures. From a teetering structure of spindly aluminium, rubber bands and ring binders to bits of board wrapped in glossy red vinyl that resemble 1950s abstract paintings, gillams work is less racy than ortons.

John kingsley orton, 1st january 1933, leicester d. Its not known what islingtons essex road library subscribers made of the guerrilla art that started popping up on hundreds of book covers in. Nov 10, 2019 the subversive genius of joe orton artist christian furr who remastered the book covers and is also selling artwork in aid of the statue at an auction in shoreditch on 19 november said the. See the highlights of malicious damage, a collection of library dust jackets defaced by playwright joe orton and his boyfriend kenneth halliwell. Abstractthis essay considers joe ortons relationship to shakespeare through the library book covers that he redesigned with his partner kenneth halliwell and through his plays. Joe orton defaced book cover prints go on sale bbc news. Joe orton really was a very unlikeable character, despite being so. The now infamous doctored book covers form the joe orton collection held at islington local history centre. Sloan, the good and faithful servant, loot, the erpingham camp, funeral games, what the butler saw by joe orton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.

Rosemary doyle, islington council s head of library and heritage services, said. Joe orton and kenneth halliwells library books another. Jun 06, 2017 this summer we need your help to create a special exhibition to celebrate the extraordinary life of playwright joe orton and the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality. For the first time, the exhibition will explore the fascinating aspects of crime in orton s life and work including the defacement of the library books. Read about the library books defaced by joe and kenneth here islington local history centre holds the full collection of books defaced by joe orton and kenneth halliwell.

In 2016 artist ella phillips worked with teacher helen roberts and year 4 at vittoria primary school on the exhibition imagine islington joe orton book cover collages. In a short but prolific career lasting from 1964 until his death, he shocked, outraged and amused audiences with his scandalous black comedies. The biography of joe orton, there was no such redemption. Orton and halliwells defaced library book covers are owned by islington local history centre and museum. Prints of library book covers defaced by playwright joe orton will go on sale to help raise funds for a statue in his hometown. Letters of edna welthorpe alter ego of writer joe orton.

Malicious damage is also the title of a new book about orton and halliwell to. Incensed at the poor choice of books at essex road, their local library, they began stealing books. And dont you ever forget it because i wont, british playwright joe orton sneered at the height of his career. Shown here is a selection of the book covers that orton. After the trial, the surviving covers were kept within islington public library service by the special collections librarian.

Read about the library books defaced by joe and kenneth here. Joe orton john kingsley joe orton 1 january 1933 9 august 1967 was an english playwright. Sloane a comedy evergreen original, e393 by orton, joe and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Joe orton and kenneth halliwells defaced book covers in. Joe orton english playwright what the butler saw loot. Many other of the improved book covers celebrated queer love, one way or another.

Emma parker examines ortons satire on social and sexual convention by showing how the opening of loot establishes the plays central themes and dramatic techniques. On the cover of a book of john betjeman poetry, a middleaged man. Joe orton was played by the actor kenny doughty in the 2006 bbc film kenneth williams. On the cover of othello, othello looks past the naked desdemona, whose hand hovers suggestively above her crotch. Joe orton led a life that was interesting and what seems completely over the top. Orton in the archives history workshop journal oxford. This summer we need your help to create a special exhibition to celebrate the extraordinary life of playwright joe orton and the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Library book covers defaced by joe orton and kenneth. This essay considers joe ortons relationship to shakespeare through the library book covers that he redesigned with his partner kenneth halliwell and through his plays. In 1989 literary critic simon shepherd prefaced because were queers his book on joe orton and kenneth halliwell with the following acknowledgment.

A selection of ortons embellished covers is currently on show alongside the sculptural assemblages of contemporary artist adam gillam. For the first time, the exhibition will explore the fascinating aspects of crime in ortons life and work including the defacement of the library books. The islington library books defaced book jacket of the lunts by george freedley read about the library books defaced by joe and kenneth here islington local history centre holds the full collection of books defaced by joe orton and kenneth halliwell. Love, death and wolfenden delivered by dr emma parker nb booking is only necessary if you wish to tell us about particular needs, eg accessibility concerns. See more ideas about kinds of people, people and playwright. Sep 23, 2012 the book covers that orton and halliwell vandalized have since become a valued part of the islington local history centre collection. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in joe orton andor kenneth halliwell. Nov 11, 20 but a new book by ilsa colsell, malicious damage, is taking a step back from the couples tragic and violent demise, and the brief but vivid writing success enjoyed by orton in the five years beforehand. A display of ortonrelated archive material, such as the edna letters and a selection of library book covers creatively doctored by joe and his partner kenneth halliwell whilst living locally in islington. A black farce masterpiece, loot follows the fortunes of two young thieves, hal and dennis. Better than just defacing them theyd decorated their flat on noel street with them. Vittoria primary chose to be inspired by our famous artworks by joe orton. Yours faithfully, edna welthorpe mrs joe ortons prank. Joe orton was a workingclass, gay playwright whose outrageous black comedies scandalised theatre audiences in the 1960s.

The front cover featured a cubist grotesque, while the back cover showed a man in his early thirties, crisply sunburnt, sitting back on a patio folding chair wearing nothing but an amused smirk and a pair of decidedly frontand. The original islington public library book covers defaced by joe orton and kenneth halliwell are closed. It is inevitable that the relationship between playwright joe orton and his older lover kenneth halliwell is seen through the prism of their violent deaths orton hammered to death by halliwell, who then drank a lethal cocktail of grapefruit juice and pentobarbital. Oct 16, 2017 dr emma parker will examine what the library book covers that joe orton defaced or redesigned with his partner keith halliwell reveal about his subversive attitude to the bard, social class and sexuality in mid century britain. The book covers that orton and halliwell vandalized have since become a valued part of the islington local history centre collection. Islington public library book covers defaced by joe orton and. Whenever ive moved ive wanted to find out about the area. His public careerfrom 1964 until his death in 1967was short but highly influential. Joe orton and kenneth halliwells redesigned library book covers. It proposes that orton and halliwells neglected shakespeare dust jackets are as subversive as the betterknown covers of the popular and middlebrow library books they reworked. Dont let the dull grey title cover deceive you, this is a book of books covers in 1962 failed writers joe orton and kenneth halliwell were tried at old street magistrates court for defacing library books from islington library on essex road. Dr emma parker will examine what the library book covers that joe orton defaced or redesigned with his partner keith halliwell reveal about his subversive attitude to the bard, social class and sexuality in mid century britain. Sloane and the farce hit loot, and was completing what the butler saw. Instead colsell explores the threeyear period the pair spent in artistic chicanery, stealing books from islington library.

Sep 19, 2008 in 1989 literary critic simon shepherd prefaced because were queers his book on joe orton and kenneth halliwell with the following acknowledgment. Entry is free to the gallery of book covers, entitled malicious damage. Now the dust jackets and the trial are being reexamined. Jan 14, 2011 a selection of ortons embellished covers is currently on show alongside the sculptural assemblages of contemporary artist adam gillam.

Orton began writing plays, and it was as a playwright that he met with success. Despite its success in performance, and being hailed by sir terence rattigan as the best first play hed seen in thirty odd years, it was not until the london production of loot in 1966 less than a year before joe ortons untimely death that theatre audiences and critics began to more fully appreciate the originality. Get a tote bag featuring joe orton immortalised by bristol street artist, stewy. Since 2003, the book covers have been preserved by the islington local history centre where they form the joe orton collection. Why i blame myself for the murder of sixties playwright. The old mad bastard gets the full ortonhalliwell treatment he has had his arms cut off at the elbow, while his army swarms away from him. Joe orton artworks to be auctioned for appeal news. When joe orton 19331967 wrote those words in his diary in may 1967, he was being hailed as the greatest comic playwright since oscar wilde for his darkly hilarious entertaining mr. Jul 24, 2018 i discovered joe orton in a secondhand bookshop, on the bottom shelf, between a travelogue and a potboiler thriller. Around the same time that he and halliwell started redesigning library books, orton also began writing prank letters using false names. Masterminded as a form of covert protest at the terrible quality of his local librarys book selection, what the authorities felt about the stunt was clear. Events share 5 march 2020 events the joe orton diaries. To be young, goodlooking, healthy, famous, comparatively rich, and happy is surely going against nature. During this brief period he shocked, outraged, and amused audiences with his scandalous black comedies.

Joe ortons incarceration, however, proved inspirational and he embarked upon what was to be a successful but all too brief writing career, cut short by his murder at the hand of his jealous partner in 1967. Ortonesque became a recognised term for outrageously. Dr parker, associate professor of english at the school of arts, university of leicester, is an expert on postwar and. Lying in bed, his face caked with dried blood, his head cratered like a burnt candle, was the body of joe orton, the 34yearold playwright whose anarchic, outrageous and often shocking black. In 1962 aspiring writer joe orton and his partner and mentor. The strange, sad story of joe orton, his lover, and 72 stolen.

After the main event, guests can explore a range of dropin activities around the museum, including. For more details on visiting the centre call 020 7527 7988 or email. I could relate to the theatre parts of the book and the characters, the look into orton s family life i found fascinating but what i found missing in the early sections was his interaction with his lover, kenneth halliwell. An islington library book cover maliciously damaged by. Library books defaced by prankster playwright joe orton go on. After rubbing the shell of this nut for 361 pages i thought i would be treated to a hidden pecan, but the shell was empty. This is a chance for local residents and visitors to find out about this fascinating chapter in. Library books defaced by prankster playwright joe orton go.

For more details on visiting the centre call 020 7527 7988 or. Writer joe orton and his partner and mentor kenneth halliwell in the early 1960s created guerilla artwork using collage techniques. But a new book by ilsa colsell, malicious damage, is taking a step back from the couples tragic and violent demise, and the. The collages on the covers were no less subdued, and often overtly queer. To support a campaign to crowdfund a statue of the iconic british playwright joe orton in his hometown of leicester the estate of joe orton is releasing, for the first time ever, limited edition prints of three of the infamous library book covers that orton doctored with his partner kenneth halliwell in 1962, an act that led to the couple being sent to prison. Thanks to the staff of islington central library for their helpfulness and in particular to eric willats, now retired, who had the foresight to establish and mainstream an orton archive before orton became an industry. Oct 11, 2011 joe orton and kenneth halliwells defaced book covers in pictures see the highlights of malicious damage, a collection of library dust jackets defaced by playwright joe orton and his boyfriend.