When I was a teenager in the late 80s/early 90s, my peers marvelled at the latest pop or screen stars. My idol was a 1960s playwright – Joe Orton. I watched a film about his life on television one evening and was immediately drawn to this cheeky, charming character. After school the next day I went to our local library and got copies of his published diaries and plays that I read avidly. No other books had made me laugh so much. I had suddenly found a working class genius who lived through a life as poor and malnourished as my own. He too, was from a hard working, overcrowded family and grew up on the grim council estates of suburban city life.
Joe Orton was born in 1933 and had always dreamed of stardom as an actor. In 1950 he went to study at RADA and there he met his lifetime partner and mentor Kenneth Halliwell. Seven years Joe’s senior Kenneth was financially independent, cultured and insecure. Despite their differences they lived in each other’s pockets for 16 years in a tiny London flat. In a short but brilliant career until his death he shocked, outraged and amused audiences with his scandalous black comedic plays. However, with Joe’s success Kenneth became more isolated and depressed. One night, in 1967, Kenneth took a hammer and beat Joe to death then committed suicide. Joe was just 34.
I have always admired Joe’s “couldn’t care less” attitude. He continued to do what he wanted, and he poked fun at a society that tried to oppress him – which was audacious and daring considering homosexuality was illegal in this lifetime.
Mandi, Cardiff
