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15

 

March

 – 

15

 

April

   

Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm

   

Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm

Debate: Baldwin VS Buckley

Debate: Baldwin VS Buckley

Presented in collaboration with the american vicarious

NOW EXTENDED TO 15TH APRIL

Following a critically acclaimed run in New York City, the american vicarious’ radically staged production of the historic debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr. premieres at London’s Stone Nest.

“Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro?”

This was the topic on February 18, 1965 when an overflowing crowd packed the Cambridge Union in Cambridge, England, to bear witness to a historic televised debate between James Baldwin, the leading literary voice of the civil rights movement, and William F. Buckley Jr., a fierce critic of the movement and America’s most influential conservative intellectual.

The stage was set for an epic confrontation that pitted Baldwin’s call for a moral revolution in race relations against Buckley’s unabashed elitism and implicit commitment to white supremacy. This historic clash reveals the deep roots and lasting legacy of racial conflict that continues to haunt America.

The objective of the american vicarious in restaging this historic debate is not to inhabit such monumental figures as James Baldwin or William F. Buckley Jr., their shoes are too large to fill. Rather, their objective is to simply place their words, which still resonate 58 years later, within the voice of contemporary artists.

Adapted and directed by Christopher McElroen with video and graphics designed by Adam J Thompson. Featuring Teagle F. Bougere (Broadway’s The Tempest with Patrick Stewart and Ivo Van Hove’s The Crucible) as Baldwin and Eric T. Miller as Buckley. Joining them in the cast from the UK are Christopher Wareham and Tom Kiteley.

There will be a BSL interpreted performance on 6th April.

We will be hosting a series of post-show talks (Tue, Wed (except 15/03), Fri and Sat. mat) with the actors and guest hosts (to be announced) where we will discuss what has changed, and what has remained the same, in the US and UK race relations since the original debate. And, why this debate is still relevant in both countries 58 years later.

Running time: 1hr

the american vicarious is committed to producing creative content across disciplinary boundaries that aspires to reflect on America’s ideals and realities, and that which unites and divides its people. Current projects include: Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley, Sherief Elkatsha’s award winning documentary film, Far From the Nile, and Negative Liberty / Positive Liberty, a video installation exploring the dangers of political rhetoric. Recent projects include Gerald Clayton’s concert installation Piedmont Blues: A Search for Salvation, the world premiere of Shooting Celebrities, NY Times Critic’s Pick STATIC APNEA (2020), and the world premiere of Jaymes Jorsling’s (A)loft Modulation.

NOW EXTENDED TO 15TH APRIL

Following a critically acclaimed run in New York City, the american vicarious’ radically staged production of the historic debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr. premieres at London’s Stone Nest.

“Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro?”

This was the topic on February 18, 1965 when an overflowing crowd packed the Cambridge Union in Cambridge, England, to bear witness to a historic televised debate between James Baldwin, the leading literary voice of the civil rights movement, and William F. Buckley Jr., a fierce critic of the movement and America’s most influential conservative intellectual.

The stage was set for an epic confrontation that pitted Baldwin’s call for a moral revolution in race relations against Buckley’s unabashed elitism and implicit commitment to white supremacy. This historic clash reveals the deep roots and lasting legacy of racial conflict that continues to haunt America.

The objective of the american vicarious in restaging this historic debate is not to inhabit such monumental figures as James Baldwin or William F. Buckley Jr., their shoes are too large to fill. Rather, their objective is to simply place their words, which still resonate 58 years later, within the voice of contemporary artists.

Adapted and directed by Christopher McElroen with video and graphics designed by Adam J Thompson. Featuring Teagle F. Bougere (Broadway’s The Tempest with Patrick Stewart and Ivo Van Hove’s The Crucible) as Baldwin and Eric T. Miller as Buckley. Joining them in the cast from the UK are Christopher Wareham and Tom Kiteley.

There will be a BSL interpreted performance on 6th April.

We will be hosting a series of post-show talks (Tue, Wed (except 15/03), Fri and Sat. mat) with the actors and guest hosts (to be announced) where we will discuss what has changed, and what has remained the same, in the US and UK race relations since the original debate. And, why this debate is still relevant in both countries 58 years later.

Running time: 1hr

the american vicarious is committed to producing creative content across disciplinary boundaries that aspires to reflect on America’s ideals and realities, and that which unites and divides its people. Current projects include: Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley, Sherief Elkatsha’s award winning documentary film, Far From the Nile, and Negative Liberty / Positive Liberty, a video installation exploring the dangers of political rhetoric. Recent projects include Gerald Clayton’s concert installation Piedmont Blues: A Search for Salvation, the world premiere of Shooting Celebrities, NY Times Critic’s Pick STATIC APNEA (2020), and the world premiere of Jaymes Jorsling’s (A)loft Modulation.

Reviews

‘utterly captivating. The fierce eloquence and intellectual rigour of Baldwin and Buckley’s arguments have not lost any of their power’
‘utterly captivating. The fierce eloquence and intellectual rigour of Baldwin and Buckley’s arguments have not lost any of their power’
‘utterly captivating. The fierce eloquence and intellectual rigour of Baldwin and Buckley’s arguments have not lost any of their power’
‘utterly captivating. The fierce eloquence and intellectual rigour of Baldwin and Buckley’s arguments have not lost any of their power’
Arifa Akbar
Arifa Akbar
 | 
The Guardian
The Guardian
Arifa Akbar
Arifa Akbar
 | 
The Guardian
The Guardian
**** “Teagle F Bougere is riveting”
**** “Teagle F Bougere is riveting”
**** “Teagle F Bougere is riveting”
**** “Teagle F Bougere is riveting”
Dave Fargnoli
Dave Fargnoli
 | 
The Stage
The Stage
Dave Fargnoli
Dave Fargnoli
 | 
The Stage
The Stage
“With his slick-backed hair and eyeballing of the audience, Eric T. Miller revels in Buckley’s suave sophistry.”
“With his slick-backed hair and eyeballing of the audience, Eric T. Miller revels in Buckley’s suave sophistry.”
“With his slick-backed hair and eyeballing of the audience, Eric T. Miller revels in Buckley’s suave sophistry.”
“With his slick-backed hair and eyeballing of the audience, Eric T. Miller revels in Buckley’s suave sophistry.”
Rachel Halliburton
Rachel Halliburton
 | 
The Times
The Times
Rachel Halliburton
Rachel Halliburton
 | 
The Times
The Times
"Highbrow/Brilliant"
"Highbrow/Brilliant"
"Highbrow/Brilliant"
"Highbrow/Brilliant"
 | 
The Approval Matrix, New York Magazine
The Approval Matrix, New York Magazine
 | 
The Approval Matrix, New York Magazine
The Approval Matrix, New York Magazine

Cast & Crew

Christopher McElroen
Director
Teagle F. Bougere
James Baldwin
Eric T. Miller
William F. Buckley Jr.
Christopher McElroen
Director
Teagle F. Bougere
James Baldwin
Eric T. Miller
William F. Buckley Jr.