Writer of Slave Play wary of celebrity castings despite star's role

The writer of Slave Play, a controversial Broadway production about race and sexuality that caused protests and broke Tony nomination records, has criticised commercial theatre's dependency on casting celebrities, saying it turns performances into a "Disney World attraction".

- Lanre Bakare

Jeremy O Harris said "star casting" - hiring big-name TV, film and even social media stars to perform in the West End and on Broadway - could dilute the theatre experience and was no guarantee of success.

He said: "There's a lot of people making theatre now who think commercial theatre can only be made if you have someone who's on the biggest TV show or the biggest movie ever, with the marquee name as the reason for you to buy the ticket. I don't believe in that.

"It's something that takes away from great theatre because people treat it like a Disney World attraction, where the play is background to the amusement of seeing their favourite celebrity in front of them." Slave Play will come to the Noël Coward theatre in London from 29 June to 21 September, and will feature its own star name from the world of television.

The West End transfer of Harris's play will star Kit Harington, the actor who is best known to millions of Game of Thrones fans for his performance as Jon Snow in the HBO drama.