Prick Up Your Ears 1987

On 9 August 1967, in Islington, the literary agent Peggy Ramsay finds herself knocking on the door of playwright Joe Orton and his partner Kenneth Halliwell; however, no one answers. Concerned, she decides to call the police, who unfortunately discover the tragic scene of the two men’s lifeless bodies. Fast forward a decade, and theatre critic John Lahr is eager to pen a biography on Orton. He visits Ramsay, where they come across Orton’s diaries, prompting her to recount Orton’s fascinating life story.

The journey of Orton and Halliwell commenced at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Initially, Orton took on the role of an unrefined youth beneath the pretense of Halliwell’s older wisdom. However, as time progressed, Orton’s confidence surged, bolstering his literary prowess, while Halliwell found himself stagnant in his creative efforts. They gradually slipped into a caricatured dynamic resembling a conventional married couple; Orton took on the role of the “husband,” while Halliwell morphed into the neglected “wife.” This internal struggle was heightened in an era when homosexuality was deemed illegal.

As Orton received a commission to script a movie for the legendary Beatles, Halliwell became overly enthusiastic while preparing for an encounter with the iconic band. Yet fate dealt a harsh hand, as Orton was called away to a solitary meeting. The culmination of their fraught relationship led to a heart-wrenching climax in August 1967, when a despondent Halliwell took the drastic step of ending Orton’s life before succumbing to suicide himself.

This tragic tale reveals the complexities of their intertwined lives and the profound impact of fame, despair, and the pursuit of artistic identity.