Literary Leicester: Unveiling Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr Sloane

Literary Leicester

14 November, 2014

1.30, Special Collections Reading Room, David Wilson Library

Unveiling Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr Sloane: A Commemorative Pot

To mark the 50^th anniversary of Leicester-born writer Joe Orton’s first stage play, his sister Leonie Orton Barnett will unveil a pot specially commissioned for the David Wilson Library from local ceramicist Rachel Barnett, Orton’s niece.

The pot reflects the play’s central themes and features quotations from the characters. Its ‘Ortonesque’ style mirrors the author’s trademark combination of humour and horror. For example, the handles consist of a set of false teeth.

Dr Emma Parker of the School of English, who produced a 50^th anniversary edition of Entertaining Mr Sloane earlier this year, said: ‘This wonderful pot not only commemorates the play but will ignite new interest in Orton’s work and entice people into the Orton archive.’

Come along and be the first to see the latest addition to the library’s growing collection of contemporary art and celebrate the play that launched Orton’s career.