Kit Harington’s Daring Nude Scenes In “Slave Play” Spark Controversy And Extra Security Measures
“The sex scene Kit’s in is quite shocking. There are lots of mirrors on stage so the audience can see his tackle from all angles.”
Kit Harington, best known for his role in Game Of Thrones, is causing a stir with his nude scenes in the new West End play, Slave Play. The Noël Coward Theatre has taken extra precautions to prevent audience members from capturing photos or videos of the actor during these revealing moments.
“Management really want to protect his modesty so they’ve threatened legal action if anyone is caught filming.” – A source told The Sun
In a scene that lasts over ten minutes, Harington appears fully nude on stage, surrounded by mirrors that give the audience a 360-degree view. To prevent any unauthorised photos or videos, theatre staff are providing stickers to cover the cameras on audience members’ phones upon entry.
Despite the controversy surrounding the play’s content, which deals with race, identity, and sexuality in modern America, Harington remains a “true pro” and doesn’t break character during the nude scenes, according to an anonymous source.
Slave Play, which also stars Olivia Washington (daughter of Denzel Washington), has faced criticism and a petition for cancellation when it debuted on Broadway in 2019. Some argued that the play made light of chattel slavery and left at least one audience member feeling “offended and traumatised.” However, the play still received 12 Tony nominations in 2021.
The West End production has also been accused of “infantilising” audience members by providing breathing and grounding exercises to help them cope with the play’s content. The theatre has extended its post-show reflective space to 15 minutes to allow audiences to process their emotions.
In February, the London production caused further uproar when it announced plans for two performances that might be set aside for black theatre-goers to watch without the “white gaze”.
