John Orton was een Engelse toneelschrijver wiens korte maar productieve carrière in de jaren zestig schandalige zwarte komedies voortbracht die het publiek schokten, verontrustten en vermaakten. Zijn stijl, nu 'Ortonesk' genoemd, wordt gekenmerkt door een duister maar farsiek cynisme dat de spot drijft met gevestigde maatschappelijke normen. Orton's toneelstukken onderzoeken vaak thema's als de dood, de politie, religie en gerechtigheid vanuit een provocatief en onconventioneel perspectief. Zijn literaire nalatenschap ligt in zijn unieke vermogen om absurde humor te combineren met scherpe maatschappelijke kritiek, waarmee hij een onuitwisbare indruk achterliet in de theaterwereld.
From December 1966 to August 1967, Joe Orton's diaries provide a candid account of his literary success, including an Evening Standard Award and admiration from the Beatles, alongside his unconventional sexual escapades.
Collects all seven plays by English playwright Joe Orton, published between 1964 and 1967
Unexpurgated insight into the life of one of British theatre's most controversial figures of the 1960's
Fred & Madge presents an absurdist drama that critiques society through the lens of a married couple engaged in monotonous labor, who realize they are characters in their own play. The Visitors offers a stark, realistic portrayal of a dying man visited by his daughter, highlighting the chaotic dynamics of hospital care. These recently discovered works, written before Orton's rise to fame, showcase the evolution of his dramatic voice and set the stage for his later acclaimed pieces.
A student edition of Joe Orton's black farce, with full introduction, commentary and questions for study.
"Joe Orton's last play, What the Butler Saw, will live to be accepted as a comedy classic of English literature" (Sunday Telegraph)
Entertaining Mr Sloane was first staged in 1964. Despite its success in performance, and being hailed by Sir Terence Rattigan as 'the best first play' he'd 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 of Orton's elegant, alarming and hilarious writing. Introduced by John Lahr, the author of Orton's biography Prick up Your Ears, Entertaining Mr Sloane is now established as an essential part of the repertoire of the modern theatre.
The diary of aspiring actress Susan Hope chronicles her tumultuous journey from the London stage to the dark underbelly of the white slave trade in Mexico, ultimately leading her to Hollywood fame. Written in 1957, this comic novel showcases a unique blend of camp humor and suppressed eroticism, marking a pivotal moment in Joe Orton's career. It introduces readers to his distinctive voice, which would later resonate in his acclaimed plays, offering a vivid exploration of ambition and survival in the entertainment industry.
