Jeremy O. Harris’ acclaimed play Slave Play opens in the West End in June starring Kit Harington
West End and Broadway producers Empire Street Productions have issued a statement in response to criticism levelled at its decision to hold two Black Out nights during the 3 month run of Slave Play at the Noel Coward Theatre in London.
The Empire Street Productions statement said: “As the producers of SLAVE PLAY in the West End, our intent is to celebrate the play with the widest possible audience. We want to increase accessibility to theatre for everyone. The Broadway production conceived of black out nights and we are carefully considering how to incorporate this endeavour as part of 2 performances in our 13-week run. We will release further details soon. To be absolutely clear, no-one will be prevented or precluded from attending any performance of SLAVE PLAY.”
The intention to hold two Slave Play Black Out nights, on 17 July and 17 September, was announced earlier this week as part of the launch announcement for the show. The Black Out nights concept was first created by Slave Play’s Jeremy O. Harris for the Broadway run of the play, and the press announcement stated that Black Out nights are “the purposeful creation of an environment in which an all-Black-identifying audience can experience and discuss an event in the performing arts, film, athletic, and cultural spaces – free from the white gaze.”
Writer Jeremy O. Harris went on BBC Radio 4’s The Wold at One news programme on 27 February to talk more about the play, and Black Out nights, and the subject has continued to generate discussion and headlines ever since.
The extent of the public discussion has led to a spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister issuing a statement today saying: “The prime minister is a big supporter of the arts and he believes that the arts should be inclusive and open to everyone, particularly where those arts venues are in receipt of public funding… these reports are concerning and further information is being sought. Restricting audiences on the basis of race would be wrong and divisive. It’s a statement of principle that clearly the arts should be inclusive. And I think that particular taxpayers would particularly expect that to be the case when public funding is involved.”
The production of Slave Play in the West End is a wholly commercial venture, produced by Empire Street Productions, Seaview, and bb², and playing in a commercial West End theatre – Cameron Mackintosh’s Noel Coward Theatre, part of Delfont Mackintosh Theatres.
London is no stranger to the concept of Black Out nights, with venues including the Theatre Royal Stratford East holding Black Out nights for Tambo and Bones last year, and the Yard Theatre in London hosting a night as recently as last night (28 February) for its production of Samuel Takes a Break…
Producers of the show had run a significant teaser campaign for Slave Play ahead of the show’s launch this week, with the tagline: “IS LONDON READY?”.
Directed by Robert O’Hara (The Continuum), and written by Jeremy O. Harris (The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, Ain’t No Mo’, Daddy, Euphoria), Slave Play will run at the Noel Coward Theatre from 29 June to 21 September 2024.
The production will star Fisayo Akinade (The Crucible, Heartstopper) as Gary, Kit Harington (Game of Thrones, True West) as Jim, Aaron Heffernan (Brassic, Atlanta) as Phillip, and Olivia Washington (I Am Virgo, Breaking) as Kaneisha; and reprising their roles from the original Broadway production will be James Cusati-Moyer (Six Degrees of Separation, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) as Dustin, Chalia La Tour (The Good Fight, Elementary) as Teá, Annie McNamara (Orange is the New Black) as Alana, and Irene Sofia Lucio (The Americans, Wit) as Patricia.
The play follows three interracial couples, and billed as explosive and provocative, the show rips history apart and sheds new light on race, gender and sexuality in the 21st century.
Slave Play’s London premiere follows successful runs at the New York Theatre Workshop and Broadway’s Golden Theatre, where the show was nominated for 12 Tony Awards in 2021, a Broadway record for plays, but failed to grab any wins. However, Slave Play did win the Rosa Parks Playwriting Award, the Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award, The Lotos Foundation Prize in the Arts and Sciences and the 2018 Paula Vogel Award.
The creative team will also include designs by Clint Ramos, costumes by Dede Ayite, lighting by Jiyoun Chang and composition and sound design by Lindsay Jones. Casting is by Amy Ball, with original US casting by Taylor Williams.
Slave Play is running from 29 June to 21 September 2024 at the Noel Coward Theatre.
TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW WITH WESTENDTHEATRE.COM
More about tickets to Slave Play at the Noel Coward Theatre in London
Editor’s note: WestEndTheatre.com has always been, and always will be, in support of Black Out nights, or any other nights that aim to bring diverse audiences into the West End.
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