Further Content Advice

Further content advice for The Darkest Part of the Night

Sound: very loud noises at the start of the play.

Language: Strong language (F***ing, Sh*t, R*sshole), racial slurs (policeman to Dwight), disablist language (Dwight recalling names he’s been called at school and instances of archaic medical terms used by social worker when describing Dwight)

Violence: References to police brutality (Leroy makes multiple references to riots in Leeds at this time), domestic violence (Josephine physically provoking Leroy leading to him physically restraining her. She bites his arm), violence towards children (Josephine slaps Shirley on the face)

Themes in further detail:

Racism
The characters discuss systemic racism and discrimination throughout.
During Dwight’s arrest (end of Act 1), the police officer calls him ‘f***ing w*g’ and ‘little black b*stard’.
Leroy is arrested protesting police brutality.
The characters talk about the racist murder of David Oluwale.

Mild sexual references
Dwight talks about having sex briefly in the final scene.

Police violence
Dwight is arrested for no reason at the end of Act 1.
Leroy is arrested at a protest in Act 2.
No physical violence between police and the characters is shown.

Domestic Violence
Leroy hits Dwight around the ear when he turns the music up.
Leroy threatens to hit Young Shirley at the end of Act 1.
In Act 2 there is a fight between Josephine and Leroy. Josephine repeatedly pushes Leroy and throws paper at him. She then hits him repeatedly. Leroy restrains her. She bites him.
Josephine slaps her daughter Young Shirley shortly afterwards.

Ableism
Dwight is autistic. Multiple characters think he needs to be put in a special school or criticise his behaviour.
He is put in a mental hospital for most of Act 2.
In Act 1 he mentions being called ‘Freak Schizo. Sp*z. Weirdo.’
The word ‘retarded’ is used several times in a medical context.

Poor treatment in mental healthcare system
Dwight is left unattended in a mental health hospital and sleeps on the floor.
He has been given a tranquiliser.
References to electroconvulsive therapy and sedation.

If you’re affected by the show’s themes and need support, or would like to learn more click here.