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?

While we mention exclusion... I don't know where people get the idea from that a paid event requires some special clothes or excludes them, but it would be nice to see the west end as a whole get together advertising to dispel the myths. I had a neighbour many years back, who said she couldn't come to a west end show on a free ticket because "I've never been to anything like that, I don't even have a cocktail dress or whatever". We explained we would all be in jeans and trainers, except one who preferred dresses. She came in the end, dressed up in heels and looking far nicer than the rest of us, to be surprised that only about 10% of the audience dressed up. About a week later, I bumped into her in the street and she was taking her daughter to Wicked, so one trip was enough!

Exactly!

There wasn't a Jews only showing of Schindler's list unless I am mistaken....maybe Jews were more concerned about making people aware of this horrendous part of history rather than segregating themselves in the modern era?

I suppose, if you believe that the way to solve a problem is to utilise the same level of thinking which created the problem in the first place, then it probably seems like a good idea.

You don’t know the reason.

Some British people are black, for info.

That important note aside, it is also only some of the nights. It's also not a ban, just a request. If the show chose to have specific nights for those of Caribbean black heritage only and a full ban on those nights then that would be fine too, but they are keeping it simple. Try swapping it in your mind to women's difficult stories and see how it feels then, to allow a few nights that are women only for those particularly affected to share the experience together.

White man= oppressor

Take a look around the world

But if some Jewish people had said that they wanted a screening of Schindlers list aimed at a Jewish audience, would that have been wrong? I don't think so, personally - I would find it perfectly understandable if some Jewish people had wanted that. But equally fair enough if they didn't.

Also I think in general we are in a period where the arts world seems to be in a period is notof atonement where we replace underrepresntation of people of colour with an interpretation that doesn't seem necessary and in some cases forced. We have Richard Curtis and the Friends creator and cast being wheeled out to give apologies for having non diverse casts in their programs which just seems to be without purpose.

Any period drama now includes poc and again it seems we are having to ranks film versions of classic novels with a diverse cast which doesn't reflect a historical reality. We don't rewrite Austen or Sickens to include poc so why do we feel we need to go this for television and film versioins?

It is racism, pure and simple. Just because it is anti white doesn’t make it any less racist.

Imagine a shop having white only days and people defending it by saying that blacks can shop there 78/80 days. And yes, I do know the (bullshit) argument that you can’t be racist as whites are ‘oppressors’.

In addition, the whole point of theatre is to challenge people’s views and allow them to empathise with people they might not normally easily empathise with.

I can’t imagine this apartheid happening in South Africa, and that is a majority Black Country where there might be a better argument for having them.

Terrible concept probably only happening as the play is too weak to stand on its own two feet.

Does the UK have any connection with slavery?

Surely south asians should have more beef with British people

Why the "no? didn't think so"? You really think you have the high ground here don't you, despite many people both black and white pointing out that this can be seen as divisive, regressive and racist. But what do they know - you're a white woman hellbent on virtue-signalling and no amount of common sense or reasonable debate is going to stop you!

But, though it'll no doubt go straight out the other side....

There may be many reasons why black people are less likely to go to the theatre from financial to cultural and my own 'insight' would suggest more likely financial; I don't spend much time at the theatre these days, but am a very regular feature at the Royal Opera House. Unfortunately, some shows don't sell out and on those evenings tickets are released to 'selected groups' either for free or at very reduced rates. To be clear, I have no idea whether a person has a full-price ticket or a discounted one but on those evenings there are very noticeably more black people. It may of course just be coincidence. But... if it's not... it would possibly suggest that many black people are more worried about the ticket price than feeling unwelcome; on sold out performances, the audience reverts to being almost entirely white and asian which would possibly suggest that even showing them that the theatre isn't such a scary place (even when white people are there!) isn't enough to tempt many back when they have to pay full price, though whether that's because they can't afford it or because they don't think it's worth the money I have no idea - and unlike you, I don't really believe it's my position as a white person to judge the motivations and behaviours of all black people. I was raised to believe that would be no only insulting but really rather racist.

Self ghettoisation is still ghettoisation. The ultimate result is completely separate and distinct black and white cultures even with the same cities, something that is seen clearly in the United States but not something I think to be aspired towards in the UK. Thanks for the link, I'll look into it

It is racism, pure and simple. Just because it is anti white doesn’t make it any less racist.

Why is this anti-white or racist?

The theatre has suggested that a minority group purchase tickets on the same day so they can share an experience together, nothing more.

Completely agree with this!

And disagree with the PP who said "having a white person sat in the audience doesn't make a difference"

Yea that’s why. What do you think that says about the black people who would appreciate black out nights then?

The level of racism on this thread is astounding. We can agree to disagree about whether you think a black out night is a good idea. Discussion is helpful and both sides might learn something. What isn’t okay though is to suggest that the experiences of black people are not real, it’s just a marketing ploy, black people are too stupid to deal with the nuance of a mixed space, black people that want this are racist, black people are looking for attention, black people think they own slavery, black people are….IT IS NOT EVEN A BAN ON NON BLACK PEOPLE ATTENDING!

This is how racist the least racist country in the world is!!! It’s so tiring and offensive and more of the same same same shit! Stuble, passive aggressive shit!

Originally, to eradicate racism the idea was to become colour blind.

White societies agreed, we needed to be one world, one people, and for the boundaries stemming from ethnicity to be totally dissolved.

Then the idea flipped to become the opposite of colour blindness: maybe somehow the colour blind movement didn't work?
So the idea became to be hyper aware of ethnicity and to indulge ideas like this example of segregation, in a sense holding white people to task for something they had zero control over: their ancestry.

What's the third wave, and more importantly, will white societies have the energy to engage?

Ir did work.

Black usas president. Asian UK prime minister.

No one is barring anyone from theatres. You can go to any theatre in the UK and will not be turned away because of your skin colour.
It is divisive and is segregation of colour, something we moved on from decades ago. Why go back there?

@LessonsinChemistryandLove ,

I couldn’t agree less! What Newspeak have I wandered into where segregation is anti-racist. George Orwell would either be laughing or crying.

As a Jew, I have no desire to attend a Jew only event.

A non racist country shouldn’t be attempting to divide races and cultures but to bring them together.

Totally agree.

"I'm not racist but....." is trotted out on here all the time.

Maybe the racism is more cleverly worded than at your average football game or wherever, but it's there, all the same.

These people will never see the racism of others because the they will have to face up to the fact they are racist themselves, so all they can do is deny it exists.

Snap.

Who’s idea was to become colour blind

this idea was from white people feeling uncomfortable with racism and deciding let’s all pretend we are all the same share the same goal and forget about how the past has shaped societies

maybe it’s time for white people to not make all the decisions all the time

I am not black but recognise that MN is an extremely racist place. Full of racists who don’t realise they are racists. Fragile souls who get easily upset and outraged.