Joe Orton in Tangiers. © The Orton Estate

A new website devoted to the life and times of Leicester-born playwright Joe Orton has been launched.

Joe Orton Online has been conceived and designed by Orton fan Alison Forsythe, who was inspired after visiting the Ortonesque exhibition at New Walk Museum, Leicester, in 2007.

The site includes information on the life of Orton, who went from humble council estate beginnings to a scholarship place at RADA, and kickstarted a fertile working class culture in 1960s Britain.

Included on the site is a gallery of images of Orton and his lover (and murderer) Kenneth Halliwell, and their famous defaced library book covers, for which they both served prison sentences.

Articles, essays and research by Orton experts are presented alongside his plays, diaries, news and Orton-related events. Current contributers include Orton’s sister, Leonie Orton-Barnett, noted Orton academic Dr Francesca Coppa, Braham Murray (Creative Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, who directed Loot at the city’s Century Theatre in 1966), and director David Grindley.

The website is at www.joeorton.org

“The Ortonesque exhibition, which was held at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery last year, was a tremendous success for Leicester attracting 25,000 people from around the country and mainland Europe,” said Shaun Knapp, Arts and Museums Marketing Manager at Leicester City Council. “And now for the first time, the content of that exhibition is online for even more people to enjoy.”

The website has been endorsed by the Orton Estate and has been created in partnership with Leicester City Council, the University of Leicester and Islington Council.

“The site will be developing all the time and I hope it will continue to fly the Orton flag and encourage new Orton scholars and enthusiasts,” said web designer Alison.

Visit the site at www.joeorton.org.