To think Black Out nights in theatre ARE important

[PenguinLord]

I know there was a theatre that did it last year and a thread about it- but there is a West End venue this year which will host two or three black out nights (where "all-black-identifying audiences" are invited) of the Slave Play. I had mixed feelings, but after having read a few articles on it, I actually agree with the concept- for the record I am very much white.

Spokesperson for the PM criticised black out nights saying "“The prime minister is a big supporter of the arts and he believes that the arts should be inclusive".

But let's face it, theatre experience is far from inclusive or accessible. Having 2 out of a few dozen nights will not really make a difference, nor excludes people who are not black to attend literally 80 if not more other performances. I was in theatre this week, and had a good look around. 98% of the audience were white. There were a few Asian people and 1 (one) black person- in the audience of around 300.

I suppose Id be far less likely to attend an event where I would stick out like a very sore thumb, is it really such a big deal to have two performances where people who dont usually feel theatre is an inclusive space can feel welcome, surrounded by people that belong to the same community?

It's just a marketing ploy

If black performers and/or theatre-goers feel that it's important to have Black Out nights in a play about slavery, then I don't think it's my place as a white person to question that.

With that play in particular I think it's a great idea, and will be quite an important experience for a lot of people.

I hope that this will be financially viable for those putting on the play since it's excluding what I'm guessing is the usual audience. In principle I'm in favour but I'm aware I'm speaking as a white person

Agreed

I support this.
Theatre is overwhelmingly white and middle class.

I support black out nights.

No it's divisive and unnecessary.

A white person sat in an audience isn't going to detract from a good play.

We, as white people in 2024, are not guilty of slavery crimes. We are not responsible for the things people who existed before we were even born did.

It's segregation, pure and simple.

And my husband is black and my children are mixed race and my husband found this horrifying when we discussed it.

He also pointed out to me that most black slaves were sold to white slave traders by black men!

Which I didn't know but found to be true. Black Africans sold their own to white men.

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.

And it's not equality if it doesn't work both ways.

You could never ban white /muslim/Jewish people from a performance.

Why has it become socially acceptable to exclude white people? We are the only group that this happens to and if we talk about it we are racist??

The prime minister is most definitely not a big supporter of the arts, he's just using it to win more votes. Knobber.

I saw that play in New York.

It is absolutely atrocious.

This has to be marketing.

No one says you/we are guilty of historic crimes. However, racism and dicriminations happen here and now, still. Racism is not just part of history- as we can see from the horrific racial abuse of the black actress cast in the new Romeo and Juliette done by Jamie Lloyd company.
You dont see many black people in theatre audiences, I can think of a bunch of performances I saw literally no one. One of the reasont many people dont come is because they dont think it's their place. I would think twice going to a place that is not frequented by anyone who looked like me, where I would feel judged.
Does it kill you if people who are not your community are invited to an event you are not even planning to go to?

Oh no, why did you think it was bad? I have tickets 👁👄👁

It isn't "segregation, pure and simple" though.

This is a play about slavery. It is an incredibly difficult and emotive subject. If some black people feel that it is better for them to experience the play without white people present, then I absolutely respect that wish.

And of course, as a white person in 2024, I am not directly responsible for what happened in the slave trade. However, that does not prevent me from recognising that the legacy of slavery affects black people very differently from how it affects me. It does not prevent me from seeing that racism is still very much a reality in this country or from acknowledging the fact that, as a white person, I don't have to give much thought to the question of race unless I choose to... and that is a privilege that POC don't have.

I understand that you feel that Black Out nights are not necessary, because they are not necessary for you. If some Black people feel that these performances are valuable or necessary for them, then I absolutely support them.

You have 80+ other performances of the play to see, why would you feel excluded if you are asked not to attend on one night out of 60?

is it really such a big deal to have two performances where people who dont usually feel theatre is an inclusive space can feel welcome, surrounded by people that belong to the same community?

I can't think of a more inclusive sector than the arts. There have been so many initiatives to widen audiences, and any arts organisation dependent on public funding has to jump through all manner of hoops to demonstrate diversity.

The issue is often framed as a problem on the part of the audience members - they're 'too white'. That problem would be solved at a stroke by non-white people buying tickets and turning up. I don't believe that a self-imposed apartheid is the solution to anything. But I suspect it's a useful marketing strategy.

So white people would be able to ask Black people not to attend a certain performance?

I guarantee if a night like that was advertised then every seat would be bought by a black person in protest. There would be BLM signs outside. Protesters etc...

It's ok to ban white people but not black people?

Again, my husband is black. So I'm not some racist. It's the truth.

It has something to say, and says it, in my opinion, by humiliating everyone on the stage.

But - you may see it differently.

Drop me a pm after you have seen it? We culd discuss it!

It isn't segregation pure and simple, its a group of people who are still suffering from the effects of history, watching a play about that history together as a shared experience.

I don’t agree with it. If there was a ‘white people only’ performance there would be uproar. So why is it ok the other way round ?

But black people can also go to every single other performance too! This isn't 1970s south Africa!

No. I'm black and this is absolutely ridiculous.

I'm the opposite. I would find it really cringey to go and watch something about male violence with only other women there. I mean what do you think is going to happen, that the men watch the play and suddenly get ideas and start springing into chimp mode?