The White Card
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The UK and European premiere of Claudia Rankine’s first published play, The White Card poses the question: can society progress when whiteness remains invisible? Written in 2019 during an increasingly racially divided America and before the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests rippled across the globe, a wealthy, privileged white couple invite a talented Black artist to dinner. Tensions run high and a heated debate uncovers some uncomfortable truths that can’t be ignored about white privilege, cultural appropriation and representation.
Be an ally, be in the room, be in the conversation. The White Card invites us to all to play our part in the debate.
Written By
Claudia Rankine
Directed By
Natalie Ibu
Presented By
A Birmingham Rep, Leeds Playhouse, Northern Stage & Soho Theatre co-production in association with HOME Manchester
Running time
1 hour 30 minutes
Age guidance
Recommended age 14+
Content guidance
Click here for additional information about potentially challenging or sensitive content in the show.
Access Performances
Captioned Performance: Wed 15 Jun, 7.45pm
Relaxed Performance: Thu 16 Jun, 2.45pm
Audio Described Performance: Fri 17 Jun, 7.30pm
BSL Integrated Performance: Sat 18 Jun, 2.45pm
Post-show Conversation
Please note that there will be a post-show conversation after the performance on Thu 16 Jun 7.45pm.
This will be an open forum for audience members to decompress and discuss ideas raised by the play, if they want to.
Group Discounts
Groups of 10+ will get 10% off the ticket price,
Groups of 20+ will get 15% off the ticket price.
Groups of 50+ will get 20% off the ticket price.
Group bookings must be made direct with box office to get the discount. To book, please call our box office team directly on 0121 236 4455.
Family Discount
Get 15% off 2-7 tickets when an under 16 is in the group.
Bookings must be made direct with box office to get the discount. To book, please call our box office team directly on 0121 236 4455.
Fees And Charges
Please note there is a transaction fee of £2.50 on all payment types. Please click here for more information.
Digital Programme
Download the digital programme here.
Reviews
Tense and timely, The White Card points fingers, but also points the way to positive change” The Guardian ★★★★
The play finds its mark, both in Rankine’s writing and in Natalie Ibu’s tightly orchestrated, intelligent production, in telling details” The Times ★★★★
A strong cast makes Claudia Rankine’s exploration of the ‘invisibility of whiteness’ compelling” The Observer ★★★★
Gallery
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
Photo credit, Wasi Daniju
The Cast
Nick Blakeley
Nick Blakeley plays Eric in The White Card.
C J Coleman
C J Coleman plays Alex in The White Card.
Kate Copeland
Kate Copeland plays Virginia in The White Card.
Estella Daniels
Estella Daniels will share the role of Charlotte across the run with Christine Gomes in The White Card.
Christine Gomes
Christine Gomes will share the role of Charlotte across the run with Estella Daniels in The White Card.
Matthew Pidgeon
Matthew Pidgeon plays Charles in The White Card.
Ensemble
Jam’Sy Masengo Ashleigh Fulcott-Harris Ella Kirk-Bower Abigail Senior
The Creative Team
Natalie Ibu
Natalie Ibu is Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive of Northern Stage. She is directing The White Card.
Claudia Rankine
Claudia Rankine is an award-winning author, poet and playwright.
Meet The Characters
Charlotte Cummings
A celebrated Black photographer and artist, Charlotte is known for portraying moments of violence against Black people through her photography. She experiences racism, xenophobia and microaggressions daily, and through her work ultimately, she herself is on a journey. Unpicking her experiences and conditioning at the hands of whiteness and expressing them through photography that provokes views to look at their own whiteness.
Charles Spencer
A philanthropist, art collector and entrepreneur, Charles considers himself progressive, he “voted for Obama, twice.” His art collection is an extension of himself, how he wishes to be perceived. His desire to “support” Black artists though demonstrates the white-saviour industrial complex, not that he notices. His intentions are broadly good but reconciling the way he earns his money (building prisons that disproportionately incarcerate Black people) with how he perceives his altruism becomes a major issue for Charles.
Virginia Compton Spencer
Charles’ wife and “why can’t we all just get along” Virginia – who desperately wants a harmonious life, free from confrontation in which nobody “sees colour”. Virginia is conflict averse and uncomfortable when attention is drawn to her whiteness or privilege. Anxiously fussing over dinner, frantically trying to make a good impression and connect with Charlotte while refusing to accept the innate power and privilege that she owns with her whiteness.
Alex Compton Spencer
Charles’ and Virginia’s son and Showing Up for Racial Justice activist Alex arrives fresh from an anti-Trump protest. Riding high on adrenaline of the protest, Alex is ready to confront and show-up is father’s contradictions and hypocrisy at every turn. In his eagerness to show Charlotte his allyship he centres himself once again.
Eric Schmidt
The art dealer, Eric is invested in this evening going well. He’s set up the introduction and spends the evening scurrying from Charlotte to Charles, from Alex to Virginia – the master puppeteer attempting to stage manage the evening. Lobbying Charlotte to allow Charles to buy her work and tempering the bubbling tensions between the Spencer family as they threaten to break off the whole deal.
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