Defeating The Purpose? London Play Announces "All-Black Audience" Nights

The initiative, according to the playwright, is aimed at welcoming demographic groups that have historically felt alienated in theatre spaces.

A senior Tory Member of Parliament, however, expressed his reservations about the move, telling the Daily Mail, "In other circles it would be illegal and racial discrimination. I don't understand why this isn't."

The play's author, Jeremy O. Harris, shared his enthusiasm about the initiative with BBC Sounds, stating that he was "so excited" to open ticket sales solely to individuals who identify as Black on July 17 and September 17. "[I]t is a necessity to radically invite them in with initiatives that say 'you're invited'. Specifically you," Harris emphasized.

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This is not the first instance of such an initiative. Harris previously launched the "BLACK OUT" initiative following the creation of his play "Slave Play." The initiative, as described on its official website, "is the purposeful creation of an environment in which an all-Black-identifying audience can experience and discuss an event in the performing arts, film, athletic, and cultural spaces – free from the White gaze." The inaugural BLACK OUT night, held on September 18, 2019, saw all 804 seats of Broadway’s Golden Theatre filled by Black-identifying audience members.

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March 01, 2024

Harris, who was raised in a "working-class environment," believes that such initiatives are crucial. "One of the things we have to remember is that people have to be radically invited into a space to know that they belong there and in most places in the West, poor people and Black people have been told that they do not belong inside the theater," he said.

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The London play features Kit Harington, renowned for his role as Jon Snow in the HBO series "Game of Thrones." Harris defended the initiative, arguing that there are numerous spaces in the country predominantly occupied by White individuals, and these are seldom questioned. He further explained the concept of a Black Out night as a specific invitation to Black individuals to occupy the space and feel safe.

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Harris also highlighted the distinct reactions of "culturally White audiences and Black audiences" to plays. "Let's not act that we do not know that culturally White audiences and Black audiences respond to things differently," he concluded.