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 social and sexual conservatism. He wrote letters mocking snobbery and homophobia under the pseudonym ‘Mrs Edna Welthorpe’, and sent them to a variety of institutions including Smedley’s Jam, Littlewoods catalogue and the Ritz Hotel.
Sixth Form and FE students over 16 are invited to write a new Edna Welthorpe letter in the spirit of Joe Orton.
WORD COUNT: 200
DEADLINE: 30 JUNE 2025
PRIZE: £200
How to Enter
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 ep27@le.ac.uk, School of Arts, University of Leicester, putting ‘Joe Orton Competition’ in the email header, or use the button on the left.
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 English and Creative Writing tutors at the University of Leicester.
See the worksheet on the Teachers and Students page for guidance on how to write an Edna Welthorpe letter.
Terms and Conditions
Entrants must be 16 or over and studying at a UK institution. Each entrant may submit one letter only.
Any work deemed to be offensive, abusive or defamatory will be disqualified.
Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant, and by submitting you are confirming that the work is your own. Any evidence to the contrary will result in disqualification.
The work must not be published elsewhere.
Entrants entitle the University of Leicester to the non-exclusive right to publish entries online, in print, and to perform the work at live events.
2024 RESULTS
And the Winner is…
Mona Bacon
Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College
READ MONA'S LETTER
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Click on the name to read their letter
Joint Winner 2023 – Hazel Morpurgo, Colyton Grammar, Devon
Joint Winner 2023 – Amelie Houseago, Colyton Grammar, Devon
Runner up 2023 – Chloe Howe, Bedford Girls’ School
Winner 2022 – Alex Lee, Hill Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge
Runner up 2022 – Danny Stringer, Reigate College, Surrey
Highly Commended 2022 – Miriam Waters, Hill Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge
Winner 2021 – Penelope Ogieriakhi, James Allen’s Girls School, London
Runner up 2021 – Bella Breen, Colyton Grammar School, Devon
Winner 2020 – Emmy Warr, Camden School for Girls, London
Runner up 2020 – Josie Thornton, Beauchamp College, Leicester
Highly Commended 2020 – Meg Lintern, King Edward’s School, Bath
VIEW THE 2017 COMPETITION RESULTS HERE
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 social and sexual conservatism. He wrote letters mocking snobbery and homophobia under the pseudonym ‘Mrs Edna Welthorpe’, and sent them to a variety of institutions including Smedley’s Jam, Littlewoods catalogue and the Ritz Hotel.
Sixth Form and FE students over 16 are invited to write a new Edna Welthorpe letter in the spirit of Joe Orton.
WORD COUNT: 200
DEADLINE: 30 JUNE 2025
PRIZE: £200
How to Enter
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 ep27@le.ac.uk, School of Arts, University of Leicester, putting ‘Joe Orton Competition’ in the email header, or use the button on the left.
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 English and Creative Writing tutors at the University of Leicester.
See the worksheet on the Teachers and Students page for guidance on how to write an Edna Welthorpe letter.
Terms and Conditions
Entrants must be 16 or over and studying at a UK institution. Each entrant may submit one letter only.
Any work deemed to be offensive, abusive or defamatory will be disqualified.
Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant, and by submitting you are confirming that the work is your own. Any evidence to the contrary will result in disqualification.
The work must not be published elsewhere.
Entrants entitle the University of Leicester to the non-exclusive right to publish entries online, in print, and to perform the work at live events.
2024 RESULTS
And the Winner is…
Mona Bacon
Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College
READ MONA'S LETTER
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Click on the name to read their letter
Joint Winner 2023 – Hazel Morpurgo, Colyton Grammar, Devon
Joint Winner 2023 – Amelie Houseago, Colyton Grammar, Devon
Runner up 2023 – Chloe Howe, Bedford Girls’ School
Winner 2022 – Alex Lee, Hill Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge
Runner up 2022 – Danny Stringer, Reigate College, Surrey
Highly Commended 2022 – Miriam Waters, Hill Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge
Winner 2021 – Penelope Ogieriakhi, James Allen’s Girls School, London
Runner up 2021 – Bella Breen, Colyton Grammar School, Devon
Winner 2020 – Emmy Warr, Camden School for Girls, London
Runner up 2020 – Josie Thornton, Beauchamp College, Leicester
Highly Commended 2020 – Meg Lintern, King Edward’s School, Bath
VIEW THE 2017 COMPETITION