The English composer and conductor Benjamin Britten was one of the most prominent figures of 20th-century British classical music, known for works such as the War Requiem and the opera Peter Grimes. In 1937, Britten met the tenor Peter Pears through a mutual friend, and in 1939, the relationship turned romantic. From then on Britten wrote most of his works. for Pears And despite a threatening visit from the police in 1953, they were more or less permitted to live together openly.
It was during the 1950s that there was a pink panic in the UK and the government was to crack down on ‘high profile homosexuals’. At the time Britten is living with Pears and writing a new opera based on Henry James’ novella ‘The Turn of the Screw, and also he started pursuing young boys. One choirboy to whom he started giving private lessons to was 12-year-old David Hemmings (who would go on to be a famous actor/filmmaker).
The young men would become an obsession for Britten and this is the subject matter for an intriguing new play Turning The Screw. Set against the background of homosexuality being unlawful in the UK this makes for a unique reminder of how tough it was to be considered any sort of deviant by society.
In Britten’s time there was an unspoken ‘dont ask dont tell’, particularly for intellectuals and artists as he was not only awarded two of the highest honors by the Establishment: Order of Merit and Companion of Honor, and he was also created a Baron the year before he died
This fascinating piece of queer history by writer Kevin Kelly (and directed by Tim McArthur) asks can we value someone’s artistic endeavors even when there is something about the artist that is unsettling and immoral?
It runs at The Kings Head Theatre in London until March 10th
