As well as writing some of the most famous plays of the 1960s, such as Entertaining Mr Sloane (1964), Loot (1965) and What the Butler Saw (1969),  Joe Orton penned spoof letters of complaint that satirised snobbery and conservatism. He wrote these letters under the pseudonym ‘Mrs Edna Welthorpe’, and sent them to a variety of people and institutions: a vicar, Smedley’s Jam, Littlewoods catalogue, the Ritz Hotel and people who complained about Orton’s own plays.

Sixth Form, FE and University students are invited to write a new Edna letter inspired by the question:

If Joe Orton were alive today, who or what would be the target of his satire?
Word limit: 200. Deadline: 30 June 2017 

Letters should be funny but not nasty, insulting or disrespectful to the addressee.  

Entrants should not post or email their letters to the addressee, but email them as an attachment to Emma Parker, School of Arts, University of Leicester:  Please write ‘Joe Orton Competition’ in the email header.

Please do not write your name on the Edna Welthorpe letter but include your name, home address, email address and the name of your school/college/ university on a separate page.

Entries will be judged anonymously by Emma Parker, Leonie Orton and Chris Shepherd.

Shortlisted competition entries will be posted on the University of Leicester website. The winning letter will be read at a special public event at the Little Theatre, Leicester, on 9 August 2017. The winner will receive two tickets.

The event will also feature readings of new Edna Welthorpe letters commissioned from professional writers and comedians such as David Quantick (Brass Eye, The Day Today, Veep), and Jesse Armstrong (The Thick of It, Peep Show), and a new animation by BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Chris Shepherd.

For more information and to get involved