The Noël Coward Theatre in London has sparked controversy by hosting two 'Black Out nights' for the performance of 'Slave Play,' aimed exclusively at black identifying audiences. This decision has drawn criticism from various quarters, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who labeled the initiative as 'divisive' and emphasized that productions, especially those receiving public funding, should be open to everyone. The move has been defended by some as a way for black audiences to experience the play without the 'white gaze,' while others have condemned it as regressive and contrary to the principles of inclusivity. Downing Street's criticism has led the producers to reconsider their plans for the exclusive showings.
London Theatre Bans White People For 'Black Only' Slave-Play Nights https://t.co/Zb2LEdHIcP
🔸 Concerns raised over the state of democracy in the UK 🔸 Shapps demands the Chancellor increases defence spending 🔸 Downing Street criticises 'Black only' audiences for 'The Slave Play' 🔸 How should Sunak put his money where his mouth is? @nickdebois | @cladoon72
COMMUNISM: London play will have 'all-Black' audience nights to allow experience 'free from the White gaze' https://t.co/9UoEusNtWp #FoxNews
West End theater bans white people from performances of play about slavery https://t.co/3n962dBGce
The office of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claims he’s taking a closer look at the London production of 'Slave Play' after it marketed select “Black Out” nights at the theater where show-goers could watch the production “free from the white gaze.” https://t.co/gwE3VMwbVK
No 10 criticises London theatre's 'divisive' plans for black-only nights https://t.co/WnxRgvWycK
A theater in the UK is hosting exclusive nights for black or brown people, providing a space where they can feel secure without the presence of white people. https://t.co/SugwjEK3aP
The producers of a West End show are "carefully considering" plans to hold evenings aimed at black-only audiences following criticism from Downing Street https://t.co/hW0ds0YYxV
A taxpayer-funded theatre has hosted a play for an all-black audience, the Telegraph can disclose, as Downing Street said arts funded by the public should be open to all Read the full story from @Craig_Simpson_ below 👇 https://t.co/vJRNcWOkGm
A theatre in the UK is having black only nights where only black people can come to feel safe from white people. This is one of the racist directors: https://t.co/zUhmzhV8IG
‘Slave Play’ Black Out Performances Slammed by U.K. Prime Minister’s Office as ‘Wrong and Divisive’ https://t.co/MgaKkgfR1n via @variety this is rich coming from *checks notes* the uk... white supremacy is "wrong and divisive" black out performances are actually for communion
'Slave Play' in London: U.K. Prime Minister Calls Plan for Two Black Audiences-Only Shows "Divisive" https://t.co/E9V0vMKBPF
‘I don't think Rishi Sunak would object if a play about the Holocaust had a couple of nights with an audience exclusively Jewish.’ @mrjamesob and caller Keke discuss the opening of ‘black-only’ nights at a West End show about slavery. https://t.co/tTTtaYqr1Y
The producers of Slave Play at the Noël Coward Theatre say they are now 'carefully considering' the plans after criticism from Downing Street https://t.co/wvjtnzdwxX
There is nothing ‘progressive’ about a black-only theatre performance: https://t.co/brFgxMC0RN
Theater's black-only performances to avoid 'white gaze' spark fury https://t.co/0Ogls0IHKM
✍️ 'The producers of a new West End play seem to have forgotten the lessons of the 1960s civil rights movement' | Writes Mutaz Ahmed. Read more here 👇 https://t.co/upBNYDngXQ https://t.co/K8L10NLjqc
Noël Coward Theatre in London is defending its decision to host two “Black Out nights" for performances of the show “Slave Play." https://t.co/EPw1crhyb2
'Free from the white gaze': Stage play sets dates for 'black identifying' theatergoers only in London https://t.co/5cv7nixLt3
✍️ @emmaloffhagen: When I heard that Jeremy O Harris’s Slave Play will feature two nights open to an “all-black identifying audience”, my first thought was to find a ticket link. My second thought was of the inevitable backlash that would unfold Read: https://t.co/w48oNearnU https://t.co/cWE5zhgiYF
🎭 Plays for all-black audiences ‘have no place in modern Britain’. Read more here 👇 https://t.co/6w0iegwoxx
Rishi Sunak has accused theatres that put on black-only audience nights of being “divisive”, warning that productions should be “open to everyone”, particularly when venues receive public funding ⬇️ https://t.co/KjK7H8aDC2