To think Black Out nights in theatre ARE important

I also have questions about productions such as Hamilton. The US war of Independence was obviously a huge event and a musical about one of the founding fathers is an original concept.

However it is unnecessary to have an all pic cast then people know all the main characters were white. It is patronising the audience to not acknowledge that and prevents white actors portraying historical characters who were well....white.

We wouldn't have a white actor play Martin L King as pic would find this offensive and it would just seen historically inaccurate. I don't think we should any away from having a historically realistic cast simply because of a fear of being called racist; isn't that bullying ?

You missed the point entirely

Where have I struggled with what you’ve stated? I’ve said I understand that it’s not enforceable and anyone will be admitted if they wish. Multiple people who have supported these events have said it is because black people would feel less comfortable watching the performance if white people are there. Right? So it would follow that white people would feel uncomfortable at the performance, knowing that this is the reason behind the request. That’s a direct result of the principle behind the Black Out night and nothing else.

I have said all along that I feel this is divisive. It is. Because the very principle of it establishes that there should be events where one race experiences it exclusively. (Yes I know it’s not enforceable!!)

Being the least of something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Racism is very prevalent in the UK, just because its worse elsewhere it doesn't mean it isn't also bad here.

However racism is very hard to get statistics on because of the amount of people who refuse to accept that something is racist.

I had a hate crime directed at me, and the police let the guy off on a lesser charge, so it wasn't recorded as a hate crime, the same thing has happened to numerous people I know over the years.

My local regional theatre is part of the ATG group and hosts most of the big touring productions

Tickets start at £13 and yes it may be for the highest tier but view is fine and doesn’t take away from the experience

I would rather go to many shows and pay this price than go to one or two per year and pay £££

Sorry you're confused!

"if you feel unwelcome sitting in an audience of mostly black people, that's on you then"

and if black people feel unwelcome sitting in an audience of mostly white people (in a mostly white country), who's that on?

@Lazykitten
''If there was, for example, a play about a women's event, or say on sexual violence, I'd really appreciate an option to attend with a female only audience. I don't want to watch something about my oppression sat next to my oppressor. Can imagine it's the same.''

What?

Are you suggesting that being white makes you by default an 'oppressor'?

Just bizarre...

I will never get behind any kind of exclusion simply based on the colour of somebody's skin, whether that skin is black, white or whatever other colour.

You will find all sorts of opinions and no one is representing their whole race.

Exactly. That is the very point of a discussion forum like this, to hear different opinions and my post above was mine and the experience of people I have spoken about around this topic

You have a different one, doesn’t mean that one of us is wrong and one is right

My daughter has learned about slavery at school and there wasn't an individual lesson for poc; all the children regardless of ethnicity learned the same lesson. I think this attitude should be extended to adulthood.

I think white people have to learn about slavery and they are entitled to have opinion and critically analyse sources from this period. History is not the preserve of any one culture or ethnicity.

POC 'owning' slavery as obviously slavery effected their ancestors seems quite exclude in 2024 and seems to suggest historical topics are only worthy of comment or debate from certain ethnicities. I don't agree with this.

I don't agree with labelling white people as 'oppressors' in a diverse community in 2024 UK as it is unnecessarily divisive. An focus on slavery being somehow still being an immediate factor in terms of the realities of modern Britain isn't really necessary and detracts from current causes and solutions for racism in the UK.

Not in the West End they don't. You won't find much in the way of ticket price reductions for big productions at regional theatres either.

Aren’t you splitting hairs here? It may not be a legally enforced ban on attendance of people who aren’t black. But it’s stating that they would be unwelcome - because that’s precisely what everyone who supports this move has said. It’s promoting a segregation even if unenforceable.

Others have pointed out that class rather than race is more likely to be a barrier to theatre attendance. Do you think this is fair or relevant? If so it may not be racism that’s even the core issue with theatre attendence by black people but more the cost of it, cultural perceptions around going to the theatre etc. In which case ‘Black Out’ events are barking up the wrong street in terms of making theatre as inclusive as possible.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say that the UK is one of the least if not the least racist countries in the world

I didn’t pick up on it meaning POC aren’t welcome at another performance. My interpretation was just that it is such a sensitive subject the audience and performers might feel free to experience the play differently than if there were others around who don’t have the same connection to it.

I go to the theatre (both West End and regional) at least once a week, maybe more and have been for at least 20 years

Maybe it’s the shows I go to but I have never looked round and thought this is all white night

I am in a theatre meet up group where we go to shows as a group. The topic of this play came up at our last meet up. Everyone that was there, about 10 people that included people that are white, black and Asian, all agreed that this is ridiculous and is a slippery slope to more divisiveness. Our wider group is very mixed and has people from all different backgrounds

Yes. They are essentially asking other races to give black people space to experience the play and all the emotions it raises without having to deal with the “you weren’t a slave get over it” nonsense.

How about having theatre performances for the poor and underprivileged amongst us, who have never been to the theatre or opera because they can’t afford, or if they do manage to go there they feel like they don’t belong because they’re not wearing the right clothes, and feel uncomfortable? When I last when to the theatre, I had to pay £300 for four of us, and which is so far out of reach for many who would love to be there. There’s many unrepresentative people who never get to enjoy these events.

It’s a slippery slope in terms of the principle of it though isn’t it? We’ve already now had people agreeing that plays where the audience are made up of groups of exclusive race/ religion etc might be quite nice. So doesn’t that support the point that it’s a divisive move rather than a unifying one?

Seems like you just want all people to agree with your opinion and if someone has the opposite opinion to yours, you have a further opinion about it not being the "right" one.

And No, I do not think black out nights are important.

Maybe you should tune in to Candace Owens.

It literally isn't excluding anyone. Encouraging black people to come together for a shared experience isn't the excluding white people.

As for your assumption that the UK isn't racist because some people went to see a film about Bob Marley.... are you actually for real.

There is more than one way to exclude people without banning them, which I guess is what this whole thread is about. Theatre is not really my thing, it is too expensive and mostly too boring but if people want to go then everyone should feel comfortable doing so.