Q&A Special: Joe Orton's Sister

The playwright's sister speaks

by Aleks SierzThursday, 01 October 2009

Scandal: Joe Orton advertising his The Erpingham Camp and The Ruffian on the Stair (Crimes of Passion) in June 1967

Play titles can acquire a life of their own. Playwright Joe Orton, who met a violent end in August 1967, didn’t have the chance to write the play that was to be called Prick Up Your Ears, but the title has lived on. And on. It was used by critic John Lahr for his 1978 biography of Orton, and by Stephen Frears for his 1987 film, which starred Gary Oldman. Now a new black comedy, written by Simon Bent and currently at the Comedy Theatre in the West End, uses the same title, with its naughty anagram - just shuffle the letters of the last word and you’ll see what I mean.

I remember Joe having a nice speaking voice. After all, he had a private education.

Loot, Park Theatre review – dizzyingly enjoyable

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