Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
A theatre in the West End of London has received fierce criticism for planning to host two nights of a play where white people will not be welcome, in a so called “Black Out”.
The production of Slave Play, which will star the Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington, will run at the Noël Coward theatre, with dates on 17 July and 17 September, only being open to an ‘all-Black identifying audience’.
The theatre describes the events, claiming “Black Out nights are the purposeful creation of an environment in which all-Black identifying audience can experience and discuss an event in the performing arts, film, athletic and cultural spaces – free from the white gaze.”
White theatre goers BANNED from attending ‘Black-Only’ theatre night in London.
Upcoming West End theatre show for ‘Slave Play’ will have “black out nights” for “black identifying audience’ and will ban any white people from attending two special performances so that theatre… pic.twitter.com/XvBy9rBS6L
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 29, 2024
Jeremy O Harris, the playwright of Slave Play, which tells the story of three interracial couples role-playing while on a plantation, told the BBC “I think that one of the things we have to remember is that people have to be radically invited to a space to know that they belong there. In most places in the West, poor people and black people have been told they do not belong inside in a theatre.”
“People have to be radically invited into a space to know that they belong there.”
Playwright @JeremyOHarris explains ‘Black Out’ nights of the West End run of ‘Slave Play’ – inviting only people who identify as Black or Brown to buy tickets for select performances.#BBCWato pic.twitter.com/dDainPWDwj
— The World at One (@BBCWorldatOne) February 27, 2024
Exactly who is telling black people that now in 2024 in London isn’t explained.
He continues, “There are a litany of places in all of our countries that are generally inhabited by only white people. No one is saying by inviting black audiences here you are uninvited. The idea of a Black Out night is to say this is a night where we are specifically inviting black people to fill up this space and feel safe.”
It really does sound a lot like the production has decided to make a point of ‘uninviting’ white people from attending the two shows, or banning them more accurately.
Commenting on the move, co-founder of the Conservatives Against Racism for Equality Albie Amankona urged “Disgraceful, a British theatre banning native Brits. We should not import American style race relations to the UK. ‘Black people & poor people’ have never been told ‘you do not belong in Theatres’ Americans should keep their reverse Jim Crow crap to themselves.”
People in Britain uncomfortable with the “white gaze” should emigrate.
What is keeping you here? I am tired of this sh*t.
You think an African or Caribbean country would do something so self-hating as to ban the native population from a play?
🤡 posing as anti-racists. pic.twitter.com/fFyGhsHh2w
— Albie (@albieamankona) February 29, 2024
Amy Gallagher, the Mayoral candidate for London’s Social Democratic Party, told The Telegraph that the move is “definitely racist,” adding “excluding anyone on the basis of skin colour in this way is racist.”
“They seem to be reverting to a critical race theory definition of racism whereby, according to Ibram X. Kendi, we need present discrimination, against white people, to make up for past discrimination,” Gallagher further noted.
“They say they want to be free from the “white gaze” which, of course, means white people, but they will not go as far to say white people as it would be illegal,” Gallagher urged.
Nickie Aiken, Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, has written to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer about the theatre performances, noting “At a time when we see domestic racial tensions running high, why a west end theatre thinks it is acceptable to encourage racial segregation is beyond me.”
A spokesperson for the British Prime Minister told The London Evening Standard that the actions of the production are “concerning,” adding “clearly restricting audiences on the basis of race would be wrong and divisive.”
Harris issued a bizarre response stating “Hey 10 Downing Street and Rishi Sunak… there’s literally a war going on…maybe the death of thousands of Palestinian children should be more “concerning” than a playwright attempting to make the West End more inclusive to those who aren’t historically invited there.”
Empire Street, the production company behind the London stretch of the play, also issued a statement, refuting the suggestion that white people will be banned, stating “As the producers of Slave Play in the West End, our intent is to celebrate the play with the widest possible audience. We want to increase accessibility to theatre for everyone.”
“The Broadway production conceived of black out nights and we are carefully considering how to incorporate this endeavour as part of two performances in our 13-week run. We will release further details soon. To be absolutely clear, no-one will be prevented or precluded from attending any performance of Slave Play,” the statement also claimed.
It is illegal in the UK to turn anyone away from an event such as a play in a theatre based on the colour of their skin.
Hence that statement, but everyone knows what the real intention behind such ‘black out’ nights, which have previously been implemented before in London and New York, and have even spread to places like Canada.
My wife is brown, I am white, and all of our kids are mixed. My family and I will enter any theatre we wish to. You will not be able to stop us. Any attempt to do so, on the basis of race, is illegal. pic.twitter.com/w8z907J1Bx
— Mike Fairclough (@1MikeFairclough) February 29, 2024
Why are the BBC supporting a racist and his desire for racial segregation?
— soulstorm_design (David Whyte) (@slstrm_dsgn) February 29, 2024
Anyone else up for buying tickets and turning up at the “black out nights” for the ‘Slave Play’, and then suing the theatre for racial discrimination when denied entry?
— Turning Point UK 🇬🇧 (@TPointUK) February 29, 2024
This guy is absolutely giddy about being an out and proud racist. He can’t believe his luck that he’s allowed to say this stuff.
— Alexandra Marshall (@ellymelly) February 29, 2024
“They weren’t allowed to sit in the theatre with white people”. So he now wants black/ brown people to turn up and not sit with white people 😂😂
So if you are a mixed race couple. Make sure to go different days OK— leilani dowding 🌸🚜 ☮️ (@LeilaniDowding) February 29, 2024
The man is a racist and wishes to reintroduce segregation and apartheid into the UK in 2024 🙄🤡🤦🏼♂️
— NeilTerry2004 (@NeilTerry2004) February 29, 2024
Some racism is OK, evidently.
— NoCsiouS (Ho/Hum) (@nebilcs) February 29, 2024
A number of of states in America enforced Jim Crow laws in the early to mid 19th century. Therefore, white people shouldn’t be allowed to visit the theatre. Makes perfect sense, no?
— Jake Welch (@JakeKieranWelch) February 29, 2024
This is shameful incitement to racial resentment and racial gaslighting. The extent of perverse justification for this boggles the mind. And shame on the feeble @kitharingtoncom for having no spine.
— JacovZ (@Jaco_v_Z) February 29, 2024
Get rid of the Equality Act if it only works in one direction
— Craig Travis (@CraigTravissimo) February 29, 2024
This is racism.
— steve kippax (@stevekippax) February 29, 2024
Can we have a white-only” night so white people can feel safe with our own kind…?
Surely this Jeremy racist wont have a problem with it…
— Jam3sMiddl3ton 🇬🇧 (@Jam3sMidd1eton) February 29, 2024
Pure racial discrimination. Segregation should have no place in our society. This is apartheid.
— Craig Bayliss (@CustardCream007) February 28, 2024
We know who the real bigots are 😉
— Jack Fielding (@JackFielding22) February 28, 2024
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Tyler Durden
Sat, 03/02/2024 – 08:10
