Kit Harington has defended the initiative of his new play to stage some performances, welcoming only Black audience members.
The Game of Thrones star is appearing on at the Noel Coward Theatre in London’s West End in Slave Play, which announced the decision earlier this year to have two “black out” nights during the show’s 12-week run.
Then UK prime minister Rishi Sunak called the decision “wrong and divisive.”
Harington 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 buying a ticket, it’s not illegal to buy a ticket for that show, if you want to come,” he said. “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.”
Slave Play, written by Jeremy O Harris, was a success on Broadway and nominated for 12 Tonys. It explores themes of “race, identity and sexuality” on a plantation in the old Deep South.
The post Kit Harington Defends “Black Out” Audience Nights For ‘Slave Play’ On London Stage appeared first on Deadline.
