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?

@Pickledf ,

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

That is just a version of the antisemitic trope of Jews secretly controlling the media and politics. Your level of unconscious (hopefully) antisemitism is scary.

I have never posted on Black MN (easy to check) nor would I, it is completely different to public segregation. The ‘all welcome’ is just an attempt to get around the law, it is not sincere.

It's racist 🤷🏼‍♀️

What if it people were asking for separate bathrooms? Separate public transport? Separate cinema viewings? Separate supermarket opening hours?!

We wouldn't dream of introducing shows that excluded black people, yet it's celebrated when it's the reverse?!

Absolute step in the wrong direction and / or a marketing ploy.

If they don’t think it’s ’their place’ to come to the theatre, that’s their issue. Not my issue, not the issue of any other white person. Not everything is someone else’s fault.

As a Jewish woman who works for a business that’s (Jewish) founders plough lots of money into the tories this is an odd take.

I’ve merely posted a fact.

The fact you jumped straight from factual information to antisemitism is quite telling though

I think it is decisive and unnecessary also. Imagine the outcry if it was white people only!
It is all going way too far.

If you read the thread it's been explained multiple times.

Nobody is being racist.

A group of people are being asked to go on a different night so that a minority group can experience a play that effects them together.

Why are you cross about that?

It's not racist at all, and the "but if it was the other way..." argument is ridiculous on so many levels.

Do you consider the separate SEN times to be the same issue?

Do you consider the quiet hours supermarkets are open for the elderly and those with additional needs to be ageist?

Nobody is asking for separate bathrooms or transport. Why the hyperbole?

A majority group are being asked to go on a different night so a minority group can share an experience together.

It's not racist.

Firstly, white people aren't actually being excluded. They can visit im any night including (I think I have these numbers right) the 3 out of 80 which have Ben suggested as nights for a non white audience.

To experience a play about an incredibly important part of their history. The impacts of which we still see today.

This is not at all comparable to racial segregation.

Also, no one has yet been able to say exactly how white people are being disadvantaged by this polite request?

Feels to me like good old fashioned not wanting black people to have something we can't.

It's an interesting point and I was thinking about it. Art most definitely HAS been also about just beauty and comfort and entertainment. Do you think Monet painted a bunch of garden paintings to disgust people?
Art does not have just one purpose. Sometimes it's for entertainment only, sometimes it needs to shock, sometimes it's meant to make you think without shocking, sometimes it's as you say to repulse. Sometimes to do a bit of everything.
I dont think the safe space means to sanitise the actual art in this case. The content of the play does not look like a 'safe' one. It's about getting people to experience it being surrounded by other people who may have gone through the same experience.

A while ago I went to see the same play twice. One was a mid week evening performance and the other a Saturday matinee. The audience was made up of very different demographics because of whatever reason.

The audience reaction was so different on both nights and I enjoyed the vivid reaction on the first night, but the second time it felt kind of dead, the jokes didnt make many people laugh.

What one of the articles I linked mentioned is that audiences react differently, so the same play watched by a mostly black audience will give the audience an opportunity to interact with this play in a different way than if they were lets say one of 5 black people in an all white audience. This is what in this case is a 'safe' space.

But no one asks any of those things and no one is excluded. I suppose this is the biggest problem of this idea- most people can't read and project the weirdest crap to discredit it, without even reading what is going on.

Thank you for illustrating why racism still exists- it's the discriminated people problem after all if they don't enjoy being discriminated against!

I’ve explained in the second half of my post why I feel cross so won’t be explaining again.

Did you just call me a racist?

Did she stutter

I lose nothing from these black out nights. I don’t feel excluded or discriminated against.

I feel sad that they are needed because it is indicative that some black people still feel oppressed in 2024. We don’t have white out nights because it would never occur to the default white person to monitor their emotions for the benefit of anyone else in the theatre.

if some black people feel they can experience the play differently in an audience with a shared history and legacy, and perhaps even heal a little, let them have that moment.

I think it’s a huge step towards multiculturalism to acknowledge our differences and treat them sympathetically.

The biggest problem for me is there’s no reported demand or appetite for it. But then, as I said last night, it’s really only a P.R thing to get bums on seats for ALL performances.

This isn’t new though. Been going on for years and always been successful when they do.

Because you feel as though black people asking for something from white people is racist?

Have a little think about why that bothers you so much.

Out of curiosity- how do you know there is no demand for it?
From what I have read similar events have been successful in the past.

If it was just a PR stunt, then I guess time will show if in this case it will get people to see the play to see what the fuss is all about, or if people decide to avoid the play altogether because of the controversy. Maybe they thought Kit Harrington in one of the main roles is not gonna be enough 😎

If those are your views then why do you dislike the label that comes with them so much? Wear the badge with pride.

I’ve never heard of this before (in the U.K) and I’ve been a regular London theatre goer for pretty much two decades.

Black out nights only if there are also white out nights only.

If there's no demand or appetite for it, then why do you think it would be effective as a means of getting bums on seats?

If it's a marketing ploy to get bums on seats, presumably that means that the theatre believes that there will be an appetite for it.

If nobody is interested, then the theatre will be empty and the event will flop.

That’s just called “the theatre”