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.
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Albert Finney
Actor. Born Salford. In 1960 Finney and Olivier worked together on The Entertainer, directed by Tony Richardson, at the time married to Vanessa Redgrave. He died of a chest infection, aged 82 year...
1 memorial
Forty Years On
Alan Bennett's first west end play, set in St Albion's public school (the title is taken from the school song of Harrow public school). It is an allegory of Britain from the end of World War I.
1 memorial
Sir John Gatti
Born Giovanni Maria Emilio in Switzerland, son of Agostino, of the Gatti family. Barrister, with inherited business interests in the theatre and electrical power supply. Westminster councillor fr...
Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration, Theatre, Switzerland
1 memorial
Sir Henry Taylor
Born Bishop Middleham, County Durham. Poet, playwright and public servant. He went to sea as a young man, but after finding it did not agree with his health, took up a position in the Treasury. H...
Person, Poetry, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Theatre
1 memorial
Theatre Royal Stratford East
designed by architect James George Buckle in 1884. From WW1 onwards it endured periods of closure until Joan LIttlewood arrived with her Theatre Workshop Company in 1953. The image shows the theatr...
1 memorial
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