New book prints early collage art of tragic Islington playwright Joe Orton
Malicous Damage - Credit: Archant
A new book detailing the anarchic art of gifted playwright Joe Orton and his troubled, murderous lover Keith Halliwell has been released.
Malicious Damage prints a collection of the collages the pair created by defacing library books borrowed from Islington Central Library, in Fieldway Crescent, Highbury.
The artists, who lived together in Noel Road, Islington, were eventually charged with larceny, malicious and willful damage and jailed for six months.
Their turbulent relationship ended in tragedy when the jealous Halliwell bludgeoned Orton to death at their home before committing suicide.
Cllr Janet Burgess, Islington Council’s executive member for health and wellbeing said: “We are pleased to announce that this new book on the anarchic exploits of Orton and Halliwell will shortly be available for loan from Islington libraries.
“The Council’s Local History Centre holds the surviving collection of the duo’s vandalised library book jackets from the late-1950s and early-1960s and we were honoured to have worked with the author and publisher of ‘Malicious Damage’.
“Five decades on, the couple’s notoriety is part of Islington’s rich and colourful history.”
Most Read
- 1 Man arrested, cyclist seriously injured after alleged hit and run
- 2 Woman harassed by Claudia Webbe wanted MP 'to be humiliated'
- 3 MP Claudia Webbe loses harassment conviction appeal - but sentence reduced
- 4 Plaistow police officer to face GBH trial after man left paralysed
- 5 7 of the best Chinese restaurants with delivery in north London
- 6 Explained: What the cost of living support package means for you
- 7 Mother Clucker! Fried chicken restaurant to open in Upper Street
- 8 5 of the best things to do with kids in north London
- 9 Every household in the UK to get £400 to help with rising energy bills
- 10 Jailed: Members of 'sophisticated' drugs crime gang sentenced
Malicious Damage is the first book by British writer and artist Ilsa Colsell and features a foreword by Leonie Orton Barnett, Mr Orton’s youngest sister.”