Kit Harington launches defence of 'Black-only' audience nights for Slave Play amid controversy
Kit Harington defended the Black Out nights during the Slave Play
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Game of Thrones star Kit Harington has made his feelings clear on Slave Play's Black Out nights after many social media users felt the move was "racist against white people" - despite there being no restriction on who can buy tickets.
Slave Play is a three-act play by Jeremy O. Harris about race, sex, power relations, trauma, and interracial relationships it follows three interracial couples undergoing "Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy" because the black partners no longer feel sexual attraction to their white partners.
Black Out nights at theatres were conceived by Harris in 2019, with the official website describing the nights as being for "an all-black-identifying audience" that's "free from the white gaze".
When the nights were announced, there was an outcry from the mainstream press and social media - leaving former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak even to weigh in.
"Restricting audiences on the basis of race would be wrong and divisive," Sunak said via a Government spokesperson.
At the time, theatre critic Dzifa Benson said the nights draw attention to the issue of black participation in theatre but that it also "smacks of segregation".
Kit Harington defended the plays decision to have Black Out nights
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She told Sky News: "I worry about anything that separates audiences along the lines of race. Because I don't think it reflects the true nature of our society - or I don't think it reflects what we should be aspiring to within our society where all people feel included and welcome in all kinds of spaces.
"At the same time, I do think black-out audiences make a point."
Now, Harington has defended the initiative - with the star appearing at the Noel Coward Theatre in the West End - and slammed Sunak's comments as "wrong and divisive".
He told the BBC: "I’ve come to realise or believe that it’s an incredibly positive thing. Number one, if you are white, no one’s stopping you from buying a ticket, it’s not illegal to buy a ticket for that show, if you want to come.
The Black Out nights were first introduced by play director Jeremy O. Harris
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"It’s saying, 'We would prefer the audience to be this.' Number two, I’ve been going to the theatre since I was young with my mum. I’ve only ever really known predominantly white audiences.
"It is still a particularly white space. So to have the argument that, oh, this is discriminating against white people, is I think vaguely strange and ridiculous."
The first Black Out performance took place earlier this month. Harington called it "an incredible show".
Harris also recently defended the Black Out decision on social media after being criticised by some users on X, for allegedly being "racist against white people".
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Slave Play is currently running at the Noel Coward theatre in the West End
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"I don't have to imagine the roles were reversed in my grandparents' lifetimes AND WORSE," he wrote on X.
"I'm not even saying BLACKS ONLY I'm saying I'm inviting black people first! They can bring their white friends or lovers if they want. There's no colour bar. But one existed in the UK recently!"