Playwright. Born Leicester. Came to London in 1951 as a student at RADA, where he met fellow student Kenneth Halliwell. Works include Entertaining Mr Sloane and Loot, in which he wrote the part of Inspector Truscott for his close friend Kenneth Williams. In 1962 Orton and his partner, Halliwell, were prosecuted for stealing and defacing books from the Islington Public Library. Jealous of his sexual adventures, Halliwell murdered Orton with a hammer and then died by suicide using sleeping pills, at 25 Noel Road.
Other Subjects
She Stoops to Conquer
Comic play. Probably the best known work of Oliver Goldsmith. Originally entitled 'Mistakes of a Night'. The daughter of a wealthy countryman poses as a servant in order to win over her nervous sui...
Tunnel Trench - play
A war play by Hubert Griffith, set in WW1. Shown as a ITV Play of the Week in 1963. This play opened The Duchess Theartre in 1929.
Sarah Siddons
Actress. Born Brecon, Wales, eldest sister of Charles Kemble. 1773 married the actor William Siddons. Came to London in 1782 and was renowned for her Shakespearean roles. Died at home at 27 Upper B...
Ewan MacColl
Folk singer, songwriter, dramatist, Marxist. Born James Miller in Salford, Lancashire. Three wives: theatre director Joan Littlewood, movement teacher Jean Newlove (with whom he had Kirsty MacColl)...
Person, Literature, Music / songs, Politics & Administration, Theatre
Lyceum Theatre
A theatre with this name has been in the locality since 1765. The present site opened on 14th July 1834 to a design by Samuel Beazley. In 1904 the facade and portico were retained but the main buil...
Previously viewed
St james's Garden - people of London - stone
W1, Piccadilly
Standing in Piccadilly one sees 4 memorials on the wall: from left to right: Sotheran Fountain, Garden, Lyttelton Fountain, Railings. The...
Kew Gardens Station footbridge
TW9, North Road
Opened in 1912, Kew Gardens station footbridge is an early and rare British example of reinforced concrete, using a method pioneered by t...
Sir Richard Westmacott
Sculptor. Born Grosvenor Square. One of the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition. His son, with the same name was also a successful sculptor. Died at home at 14 South Audley Street.
Sir John Gielgud
Actor. Born 7 Gledhow Gardens, South Kensington as Arthur John Gielgud, great nephew to Ellen Terry. The name indicates his Lithuanian descent. A great Shakespearean actor, he is possibly best know...
Artists Rifles
The 38th Middlesex (Artists') Rifle Volunteers was formed, in response to a threat of invasion by Napoleon III, by Edward Sterling in London with headquarters initially at Burlington House, where t...
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them