Kit Harington has slammed critics of his West End show Slave Play’s controversial ‘black-only night’ branding the idea an ‘incredibly positive thing’.
The production at the Noel Coward Theatre came under fire earlier this year after announcing it would have two performances aimed at an ‘all-black-identifying audience’ that is ‘free from the white gaze’.
At the time a spokesperson for then PM Rishi Sunak branded the idea ‘concerning’ and said arts should be ‘inclusive and open to everyone’.
Kit appeared on BBC‘s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg alongside co-star Olivia Washington and said: ‘Number one if you are white, no-one’s stopping you buying a ticket, it’s not illegal to buy a ticket for that show, if you want to come’.
‘It’s saying “We would prefer the audience to be this”.
Kit Harington has slammed critics of his West End show Slave Play’s ‘black-only night’ branding 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 announcing it would have two performances aimed at an ‘all-black-identifying audience’
At the time a spokesperson for then PM Rishi Sunak branded the idea ‘concerning’ and said arts should be ‘inclusive and open to everyone’
‘Number two I’ve been going to the theatre since I was young, with my mum. I’ve only ever really known predominantly white audiences. It is still a particularly white space. So to have the argument that “Oh, this is discriminating against white people” is, I think, vaguely strange and ridiculous’.
A spokesman said on behalf of the then PM: ‘The Prime Minister is a big supporter of the arts and he believes that the arts should be inclusive and open to everyone, particularly where those arts venues are in receipt of public funding,’ they said.
‘Obviously, these reports are concerning and further information is being sought.
‘But clearly, restricting audiences on the basis of race would be wrong and divisive.’
Asked if that was an implied threat about withdrawing taxpayer support, the spokesman said: ‘No, it is a statement of principle that clearly the arts should be inclusive.
‘And I think that taxpayers would particularly expect that to be the case when public funding is involved.’
The show’s playwright Jeremy O Harris also defended the decision said he was ‘so excited’ to put on 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 in with initiatives that say ‘you’re invited’. Specifically you.’
Kit appeared on BBC ‘s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and said: ‘Number one if you are white, no-one’s stopping you buying a ticket, it’s not illegal to buy a ticket for that show’
He continued: ‘Number two I’ve been going to the theatre since I was young, with my mum. I’ve only ever really known predominantly white audiences. It is still a particularly white space’
Slave Play is about race, identity and sexuality in twenty-first century America, was a huge hit when it debuted in 2019 but it was also controversial, with a petition to have it cancelled
Speaking to BBC Sounds earlier this year, he said: ‘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 theatre.
‘For me, as someone who wants and yearns for black and brown people to be in the theatre, who comes from a working class environment, who wants people who do not make six figures to feel like theatre is a place for them, it is a necessity to radically invite them in with initiatives that say ‘you’re invited’. Specifically you.’
Asked if it didn’t make him uncomfortable that in turn it was telling white people they weren’t allowed in the space, he responded: ‘There are a litany of places in our country that are generally only inhabited by white people, and nobody is questioning that, and nobody is saying that by inviting black audiences here you are uninvited.
‘The idea of a Black Out night is to say this is a night that we are specifically inviting black people to fill up the space, to feel safe with a lot of other black people in a place where they often do not feel safe.’
Asked if the theatre felt different that way, he said: ‘100%. Let’s not act that we do not know that culturally white audiences and black audiences respond to things differently.’
He spoke of a history in black American audiences where a ‘call and response’ was common, for example, agreeing that it can be a ‘noisier experience.’
The show’s playwright Jeremy O Harris also defended the decision said he was ‘so excited’ to put on nights in the West End where tickets were only sold to people who identified as black
‘White audiences in the west have decided to stay quiet and respond with politeness to anything they see in front of them,’ he said, though he said it wasn’t always that way in the past.
One senior Tory MP, who did not want to be named, raised questions over the decision to bar white people from the show, telling MailOnline at the time: ‘I understand the subject matter of the show may have particular resonance for some but would simply question the legality of this?
‘In other circles it would be illegal and racial discrimination. I don’t understand why this isn’t.’
Slave Play, written by O Harris and about race, identity and sexuality in twenty-first century America, was a huge hit when it debuted in 2019 but it was also controversial, with a petition to have it cancelled.
According to the Guardian, some argued the play – surrounding three interracial couples attempting to reinvigorate their relationships while role-playing being on a plantation – made light of chattel slavery and left at least one audience member ‘offended and traumatised’.
Despite the criticism, Slave Play received 12 Tony nominations in 2021.