9 August 1967/ the pyjamas. Issue 2 (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shepherd, Simon
• Is Part Of: Studies in theatre and performance. Volume 37:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 173
• Page End: 183
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: Anniversary -- archive -- inquest -- memory -- witness -- Orton -- Halliwell; Drama -- Periodicals; Theater -- Periodicals; Performing arts -- Periodicals; Acting -- Periodicals; Drama; Performing arts; Theater; Periodicals; 792.05
• DOI: 10.1080/14682761.2017.1328025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-2761

Abstract

Abstract: Commemoration of the anniversary of the deaths of Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell brings centre-stage an event which has caused difficulties for those writing about Orton. These difficulties mainly originate in John Lahr's biography, which used the deaths as a frame for viewing Orton's life and work. This essay attempts to think afresh about those deaths by drawing on texts that pre-date the biography, namely the news reports of witness evidence at the inquest. These texts have very different tone and detail from the biography but get lost under the memory- and archive-management which characterises the early Orton industry. In following where the news reports lead us, the essay takes the opportunity to ask questions about the concept of anniversary.