Slave Play Review

The Full Cast of Slave Play

One of the most Tony nominated plays of all time has come to London but the question is... is London ready for it?

Jeremy O. Harris' groundbreaking play explores race, sex, identity and power dynamics between three interracial couples. We follow the couples as they undergo 'Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy'. We learn that they have turned to therapy as the black partners in the relationships are struggling sexually with their white partners.

The play is 2 hours straight through with no interval. For the first half an hour or so of the play we see the three couples participating in 'slave play', a type of role-play in which they act out historical scenes whilst engaging in sexual acts. These scenes definitely have the shock factor and if you are not aware of the type of production you've walked into then you are in for a surprise (a few audience members did seem to leave very early on). However, these scenes do seem to be purposefully overdramatic as if to confirm to the audience that they are not real. Out of nowhere, one character yells 'Starbucks', and we are pulled out of 18th-century South America and into the present day where we learn that the couples are actually in the middle of a therapy session.

The couples we meet include Jim and Kaneisha (played by Game of Thrones' Kit Harrington and Olivia Washington). Harrington does a fine job as Jim, the uptight Brit who has obviously been dragged along to therapy against his will and Washington gives a very emotional, if slightly performative performance as the internally angry Kaneisha.

Then we have Phillip and Alana (played by Aaron Heffernan and Maika Toporowski for this performance) - the one partnership I couldn't seem to buy into and Gary and Dustin (Fisayo Akinade and James Cusati-Moyer) who for me gave the standout performances of the night - Gary's heart-wrenching speech gave me literal chills. Chalia La Tour and Irene Sofia Lucio bring a much needed comic relief as therapists Teá and Patricia. They are brilliantly irritating in the best way, I could watch La Tour's facial expressions alone for 2 hours. On the whole a wonderfully engaging cast of actors.

Robert O’Hara’s direction works side by side with O. Harris’ writing to explore the core themes and highlight racial attitudes that shouldn't but still exist today. This is amplified by Clint Ramos’s set design. The entire back wall of the stage is covered in mirrors so we as an audience are forced to look at our own reflections whilst being confronted by the heavy nature of the play. An intelligent device that does not go unnoticed.

I have to say that I found myself leaving Slave Play with more questions than answers but I do also think this was purposeful. As with any good piece of theatre, it is designed to spark much needed conversations between audience members. It's uncomfortable, it's shocking, it's extremely clever and it's like nothing you've ever seen before. Slave Play is a must-watch for a multitude of reasons - London may not be ready for it, but it's definitely in need of it.

Slave Play is currently playing at the Noel Coward Theatre and is booking until 21 September.