‘The idea that in Orton Square there should be a statue, a memorial to Joe Orton, is terrific’ (Sir Ian McKellen)

Dr Emma Parker – who is giving our March 2020 lecture on the Joe Orton Diaries – writes to say that the crowdfunding project to erect a statue of Joe Orton in Orton Square in Leicester, his home town, is closing soon.

“The appeal ends on Friday 25 October so pledge now if you want to join Ian McKellen, Stephen Fry, Matthew Bourne, Kenneth Cranham, Patrick Gale and others in making this happen.”

There will be community engagement events in Leicester to involve the public in the design of the statue, invite artists to submit a design, shortlist the best three, then commission the chosen artist to make a statue of Joe Orton for Orton Square, outside Curve theatre.

Full details on their website – the Joe Orton Statue Appeal.