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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do you find this offensive?

659 replies

Meeting · 25/05/2023 12:55

The Theatre Royal Stratford East is putting on a show and have blocked out 2 dates as "Blackout" nights where they encourage (but I don't think plan to enforce) that only black people may attend these performances.

I saw them discussing it on Piers Morgan and neither of the guests advocating for it were able to convince me that this type of segregation was at all beneficial.

Does anybody think this is a good idea? Personally I think segregation based on skin colour has no place in society, no matter who benefits from it. But I'm interested to hear from others who might away it differently?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
SunnySaturdayMorning · 25/05/2023 12:56

Of course it’s offensive. It’s excluding every other race.

Bramblecrumble22 · 25/05/2023 12:57

It's also got WWII bombing connotations.

Wishing4sunshine · 25/05/2023 12:58

Is this for real? Madness

JumbleAndKitchen · 25/05/2023 12:59

Im not offended.

Whats your position on women only events?

SpringTime2020 · 25/05/2023 12:59

What was the rationale for it?

Sissynova · 25/05/2023 13:00

It isn't excluding every other race or segregation if no other races are actually banned.
It seems like a way to encourage a more diverse theatre audience, theatre and much of the arts is very white.
I don't really see what's wrong with encouraging people who wouldn't have gone to the theatre otherwise and who might be more inclined to go if there was a more diverse crowd.

Sissynova · 25/05/2023 13:01

Also what is the difference between this and 'ladies day' which was to get more women at racing events?

readbooksdrinktea · 25/05/2023 13:02

Sissynova · 25/05/2023 13:00

It isn't excluding every other race or segregation if no other races are actually banned.
It seems like a way to encourage a more diverse theatre audience, theatre and much of the arts is very white.
I don't really see what's wrong with encouraging people who wouldn't have gone to the theatre otherwise and who might be more inclined to go if there was a more diverse crowd.

This is what I wanted to say but put better than I would be able to.

Original poster
Meeting · 25/05/2023 13:02

SpringTime2020 · 25/05/2023 12:59

What was the rationale for it?

Something to do with the context of the show I think

OP posts:
DogInATent · 25/05/2023 13:02

I find it offensive you've read more into it than is the case, just to find a reason to be offended.

"While this performance has been arranged for Black audience members specifically, no one is excluded from attending.”

https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/black-out-theatre-royal-stratford-east-tambo-and-bones-white-audiences-b1082712.html

Original poster
Meeting · 25/05/2023 13:03

Sissynova · 25/05/2023 13:00

It isn't excluding every other race or segregation if no other races are actually banned.
It seems like a way to encourage a more diverse theatre audience, theatre and much of the arts is very white.
I don't really see what's wrong with encouraging people who wouldn't have gone to the theatre otherwise and who might be more inclined to go if there was a more diverse crowd.

You think the only way to encourage black people to attend the theatre is by banning white people?

OP posts:
Papernotplastic · 25/05/2023 13:04

I’m white. It doesn’t bother me at all.

LightlySearedontheRealityGrill · 25/05/2023 13:04

It doesn't bother me, white people did this for generations, until relatively recently in some countries, with nasty motivations. So if black people want to have an all black event, I just see that as a reclamation, a turning of tables perhaps, and more power to them for it.

Sissynova · 25/05/2023 13:05

SpringTime2020 · 25/05/2023 12:59

What was the rationale for it?

To promote a more diverse audience, particularly shows with black writers.

The audacity!

LadyKenya · 25/05/2023 13:08

Nowhere has it been said that white people are banned from attending. Who said that they were banned?

Sissynova · 25/05/2023 13:08

Meeting · 25/05/2023 13:03

You think the only way to encourage black people to attend the theatre is by banning white people?

Show quote history

Show me where they are banned?
You're being inflammatory to spin a certain narrative.

They are encouraging more people to attend. White people and other ethnicities are not banned.

Imagine getting this outraged and offended at encouraging more black people to feel comfortable in the theatre with an event that is basically saying 'hey, you can enjoy this too, come along!'

Isn't it exhausting looking for offence so much?

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 25/05/2023 13:09

But they specifically aren't banning white people?

Just encouraging a particular race who might find the show specifically talks to them...

Original poster
Meeting · 25/05/2023 13:09

LightlySearedontheRealityGrill · 25/05/2023 13:04

It doesn't bother me, white people did this for generations, until relatively recently in some countries, with nasty motivations. So if black people want to have an all black event, I just see that as a reclamation, a turning of tables perhaps, and more power to them for it.

You think the best way to move forward in society is to get revenge on people for acts they they didn't commit? I highly doubt most people under a certain age these days have ever done any anti-black segregation.

OP posts:
PsychoHotSauce · 25/05/2023 13:09

Its a PR stunt imo. The language used was deliberately goady. Something about wanting an "all black identifying" audience to enjoy it "free from the white gaze".

I certainly wouldn't have known it was on without the controversy making the news.

Original poster
Meeting · 25/05/2023 13:11

It's specifically marketed for people not to have to suffer the "white gaze" so yes I do think that it's quite clear that they do not want white people to attend

OP posts:
FreedomDrops · 25/05/2023 13:11

Is it a play with high demand for tickets? I can't imagine that people who can't get tickets on other nights will hold back on booking the blackout nights because they're not black.

Original poster
Meeting · 25/05/2023 13:12

I'm a gypsy and I can't count the amount of times that I've been refused entry or service due to my race. I don't want 'gypsy only' nights. I just want to be equal.

OP posts:
Sissynova · 25/05/2023 13:12

@Meeting It is one show out of 29. So there are 28 other performances which will be mostly white if that makes you more comfortable.

LaMaG · 25/05/2023 13:12

There was quite a lengthy thread on this, maybe a week or two ago and there were some very interesting conflicting views, as you can imagine

ComtesseDeSpair · 25/05/2023 13:12

No. The producers are very clear that a) they aren’t actually excluding others, just asking them to acknowledge and respect b) the intention to create a safe space for a black audience to look at race-related issues. It doesn’t offend me that a minority group which continues to face oppression and prejudice has an event which may empower people who would not otherwise engage or speak up, to do so.