Kit Harington has criticised the controversial ‘black-only night’ of his West End show Slave Play, calling the idea ‘an incredibly positive thing’.
The production at the Noel Coward Theatre drew criticism earlier this year after it was announced that it would stage two shows aimed at an “audience that identifies as wholly black” and is “free from the white gaze”.
At the time, a spokesperson for then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the idea “concerning” and said the arts should be “inclusive and open to all”.
Kit was a guest on the BBC on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and her co-star Olivia Washington and said: ‘Number one, if you’re white, there’s no stopping you from buying a ticket. It’s not illegal to buy a ticket for that show if you want to come.’
It says, “We want the audience to be like this.”
Kit Harington has criticised the ‘black-only night’ of his West End show Slave Play, calling the idea an ‘incredibly positive thing’ (pictured with co-star Olivia Washington)
The production at the Noel Coward Theatre came under fire earlier this year after it was announced that it would feature two performances aimed at a ‘black-identifying audience’
At the time, a spokesperson for then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the idea “worrying” and said the arts should be “inclusive and open to all”.
‘Secondly, I’ve been going to the theatre since I was young, with my mother. I’ve only really known predominantly white audiences. It’s still a very white space. So to say, “Oh, this is discrimination against white people” is, I think, vaguely strange and ridiculous.’
On behalf of the then Prime Minister, a spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister is a strong supporter of the arts and believes that the arts should be inclusive and open to all, particularly where arts institutions receive government funding,” the spokesperson said.
‘It is clear that these reports are worrying and more information is being sought.
“But limiting the audience based on race would be clearly wrong and divisive.”
When asked if this was an implicit threat to withdraw taxpayer support, the spokesperson replied: ‘No, it is a statement of principle that the arts must be clearly inclusive.
“And I think taxpayers certainly expect that when it comes to government funding.”
The show’s playwright, Jeremy O. Harris, also defended the decision, saying he was “so excited” to be hosting nights in the West End where tickets were only sold to people who identified as black.
He said: ‘It is a necessity to radically invite them with initiatives that say ‘you are invited’. Specifically you.’
Kit appeared on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and said: ‘Number one, if you’re white, no one’s going to stop you buying a ticket, it’s not illegal to buy a ticket for that show’
He continued: ‘Secondly, I’ve been going to the theatre since I was young, with my mother. I’ve only really known predominantly white audiences. It’s still a very white space.’
The play about race, identity and sexuality in 21st-century America was a huge success when it first opened in 2019, but it also caused controversy, with a petition calling for its cancellation.
Earlier this year, in an interview with BBC Sounds, he said: ‘We have to remember that people have to be radically invited into a space, so that they know they belong there. In most places in the West, poor people and black people have been told that they don’t belong in the theatre.
“For me, as someone who wants and desires to see black and brown people in theatre, who comes from a working class background, who wants people who don’t make six figures to feel like theatre is a place for them, it’s a necessity to radically invite them with initiatives that say ‘you’re invited.’ Specifically you.”
When asked if he felt uncomfortable because white people were told not to enter that space, he replied, “There are countless places in our country where, by and large, only white people go, and no one questions that. And no one says that if you invite a black audience here, you’re not invited.
‘The idea of a Black Out Night is that we specifically invite black people to fill the space, to feel safe with many other black people in a place where they often don’t feel safe.’
When asked if the theater felt different in that way, he said, “100%. Let’s not pretend we don’t know that culturally white audiences and black audiences react to things differently.”
He spoke of a history of black American audiences often being given “question and answer,” and admitted that this can be a “noisier experience.”
The show’s playwright, Jeremy O. Harris, also defended the decision, saying he was “so excited” to be hosting nights in the West End where tickets were only sold to people who identified as black.
“The white public in the West has decided to remain silent and respond politely to everything that is before them,” he said, although he added that this has not always been the case in the past.
A senior Conservative MP, who asked not to be named, raised questions about the decision to ban white people from the show. He told MailOnline at the time: ‘I understand that the subject matter of the show has special significance for some people, but I would simply question the legality of it?
‘In other circles it would be illegal and racial discrimination. I don’t understand why it isn’t.’
Slave Play, written by O. Harris and about race, identity, and sexuality in 21st century America, was a huge hit when it was released in 2019, but it was also controversial and prompted a petition to have it canceled.
According to the GuardianSome claimed that the play, which centers on three interracial couples trying to rekindle their relationships while pretending to live on a plantation, ridiculed slavery and left at least one audience member “offended and traumatized.”
Despite the criticism, Slave Play received 12 Tony nominations in 2021.