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?

And, when did this idea become entrenched that ‘safe spaces’ are always needed for art? Art can provoke, stimulate, even strongly repulse. It has never been only about beauty or comfort. If you are forced to participate without consent, that’s one thing. If you choose to buy a ticket and attend, that’s another- particularly today when you can google and read reviews or even spoilers before you go.

I mentioned it before- but in London the percentage of black population is much higher with Black British making up for 13.5%. You dont see that in the audiences in theatres.

Quite a few posters have also been rude, I cant be bothered exchanging niceties if someone comes making flippant comments thinking they are being funny.

Yes, I have an opinion that I dont think the black out nights are a bad idea- an idea in this case suggested by the play's (black) author and supported by some articles I read some written by black journalists. I didnt come here to ask for anyone to change my mind.

So in essence, even if it is divisive to some people, maybe it's necessary for others and that's OK.
So Im ending with some quotes from the author's twitter:

"To be absolutely clear, no one will be prevented or precluded from attending any performance of ‘Slave Play.'”
“I’m not even saying BLACKS ONLY I’m saying I’m inviting black ppl first! They can bring their white friends or lovers if they want. There’s no colour bar,”

"This has happened in NYC, LA, and London (yes already happened in London!) to great acclaim. And you didn’t notice. Bc you don’t care.”

😘

@PenguinLord ,

The only reason that whites aren’t excluded is that it would be illegal, it is perfectly clear that they would not be welcome.

I wonder how many whites actually attended the black out nights in NY?

The theatre is a very progressive environment. I see many non black themed plays, Shakespeare for instance, where blacks play obviously white characters (King Henry most recently) and the percentage of black cast members is way more than even 13.5%. This is not an area where positive discrimination is needed or wanted by the vast majority.

Would you want black out nights/days in Michelin starred restaurants or tennis tournaments? It strikes me as the discredited idea of multiculturalism, as opposed to integrating all minorities into society as a whole.

@Newbutoldfather

I agree that positive discrimination in an industry which to a lot of children's minds would be their number one career is worrying. The arts world is insanely competitive with many fantastic actors of all cultures and ethnicities.

The diversity debate becomes more convoluted if we start saying there aren't enough people of Indian heritage or Chinese heritage on screen or stage as you get into arguments whether a cast should represent UK population by having a proportionate number of actors from each UK ethinicity. (We then throw UK regions into the mix!)

I think this all gets out of hand. You can not be racist by having an all white cast sometimes (though obviously not for every thing). You never know there might be a few Jews in the cast but you wouldn't notice because of white skin colour but maybe they are undsrrepresented?I

The focus on slavery and encouraging black audiences seems to suggest that we are not portraying slavery as a historical event of hideous treatment of humanity but there is a direct link between racism of today with racism in the colonial US i.e. white people are unwelcome as they are still seen as oppressors that should feel a collective guilt for these events and I think that there is debate about this (in fact I think it's wrong).

Why does it bother people so much

Have you spent your time yourselves working towards racial equality, every time you have become aware of racism spoken out, reported incident to the police and followed it up, marched against racism, can you honestly say you have never ever made a judgement on someone because of their ethnicity

It is a request that’s all. The experience for many black people watching the play will be different to the experience for white people. It’s not just a piece of horrific history it has impacted and shaped their families lives. How many black people will experience when they show emotion, upset or anger their feelings are labelled as chip on shoulder, being aggressive etc.

At times people want a space to explore emotions this isn’t just a story, this is history that snapped millions of peoples lives and the impact is still highly felt we can all go and see the play at some point

as for the comments about the UK not being racist or very little racism here I don’t think that is true from listening to people experience. And why is that good enough anyway

I wonder if a Holocaust play that has two nights for Jewish people only, would receive such backlash. I personally could fully understand it and would think very poorly of non Jewish people purposely buying tickets out of spite.

There are many threads on Mumsnet which illustrate clearly that people don't understand what "privilege" means. Any poster who says "What's stopping [insert name of minority or disadvantaged group] accessing [insert name of activity/institution/service]- they are open to anyone" is missing the point.

I know some British people are black 🙄 that is exactly my point! In my example, which was about Ireland by the way, excluding “British” people would also exclude people with a shared history of being colonised. And it would exclude the 100,000s of people who are British but have Irish heritage.

My point is that you can’t look at someone’s face and know who they are and what their history and lived experience is. Not all black people are the same. Not all white people have a slave trade heritage. What about all the ethnicities, with and without slavery and historical/existing in their histories?

There is a real issue with diversity in theatre participation, but this is not addressing the root causes nor is it the solution.

And no, I wouldn’t support an all female audience for a theatre show. For one, women are not excluded from theatre audiences (apart from the bloody toilet queues) and for another, it’s really important that women’s issues are not seen as side issues, but important for men to understand and engage with as well.

@whatnow123 ,

I suspect it would receive the same backlash. And I, as a Jew, think the shoah should be a lesson for everyone. Not sure what the point would be of going along with fellow Jews.

And there has been plenty of art about the holocaust and I have never heard of anyone demanding a special night for Jews.

I think segregation misses the whole point of art. A good piece of art explains experience to everyone and brings everyone together in a shared understanding.

Almost as if it’s exactly what the black out performances are trying to avoid.

I can almost guarantee those white posters making this all about them would have shit to say after watching this performance.

Of course it wouldn’t, as most Jewish people are white

This is just yet another thread that really shows how racist many on MN are. It’s the entire reason the black MN topic was created in the first place

🙄

@Pickledf ,

‘Of course it wouldn’t, as most Jewish people are white’

And that really helped in the Pogroms throughout history, and the Shoah.

And you accuse others of racism….

As it's open to "all-black-identifying audiences" anyone can show up and say that they "identify as black"

JFC 🙄

Not the same level of backlash. You've had everyone from the PM down criticizing it. I could not imagine the PM criticizing a play about the Holocaust, that reserved two nights out of a hundred for Jewish people.

Or, as with this play, Muslims and Christians were purposely buying tickets on those night out of spite, people would be applauding it.

Yes if you want to be a massive bellend

there are lots of mixed race folk who are white passing - it would be for them.

Oh my god what a clever and original point.

Except multiple people have said it on this thread (and none of them were funny either), and anyone can go on that night anyway, it was a request, plain and simple.

I have accurately pointed out racism in this thread and general racist attitudes

Your whataboutism is very transparent

Do you also go over to the BMN topic and start mouthing off? Because it’s exclusionary?

Of course he wouldn‘t

The level of money that passes to the Tories from many Jewish organisations would prevent him from doing that.

Racism is deeply ingrained in British society. But it's not racist or ignorant to suggest that this specific proposal is not part of the solution to either that racism or the lack of diversity of theatre audiences.

It's performative at best and divisive at worst. And it detracts from the actual amazing work that people and organisations are doing to tackle racism.

Of course it’s not

But many on here aren’t doing that

Its the ‘but but but what about WHITE SLAVES’

Fucking transparent

There would be an absolute outcry if there was ‘White wash’ nights so why is ‘black out’ OK? This whole thing has made me really cross and it’s like black people can be racist towards white people but if white people dare to say a word against the madness then they’re the racists.