There are very few people in modern entertainment who court controversy like writer, actor, and producer Jeremy O. Harris. The playwright burst onto the scene in 2018 with his groundbreaking and polarizing show “Slave Play.” Following two runs on Broadway, the play is currently set to begin a run in London’s West End later this month. However, in the new HBO documentary ‘Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play.’, Harris takes a different look at the play, as well as himself. The film will debut on HBO and Max on Thursday, June 20 at 9 p.m. ET. If you want to see this unique look at the work of one of our most provocative artists, you can watch with a Subscription to Max.
How to Watch ‘Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play.’
- When: Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 9 p.m. ET
- TV: HBO
- Stream: Watch with a Subscription to Max.
About ‘Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play.’
When “Slave Play” premiered on Broadway, it was celebrated by audiences and critics alike for its thoughtful and funny approach to race, sex, and interracial relationships. The show went on to set a new Tony Awards record with 12 nominations — at the time, the most in history for a play — but it also drew violent reactions from audience members who did not appreciate some of the themes of the show.
In this documentary, Jeremy O. Harris takes a fresh look at the show as he strips down the piece and directs actors from the William Esper Studio through a series of workshop rehearsals. As the acting students parse the text, their perspective brings new meaning to the text and Harris turns his critical eye to the thoughts, inspirations, and creative process that originally brought the play to life.
Throughout the film, Harris confronts and wrestles with the success of his show and the outrage it provoked. Probing the incendiary nature of the text, Harris and the cast look for the truth found within each of the eight roles, all of which subvert racial stereotypes and power inequalities within interracial couples. The documentary mixes clips of the rehearsal sessions with those from the live stage performances.
Are You Able to Watch ‘Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play.’ for Free?
There are a number of ways that you are able to stream the documentary for free. The easiest is to take advantage of Max’s seven-day free trial, but you better hurry. Warner Bros. Discovery’s flagship platform is only offering the one-week trial through Sunday, June 23. So, if you want to watch the “Slave Play” documentary on Max, you need to make sure that you sign up this weekend. Once the trial ends, the minimum monthly rate for Max is $9.99 for the ad-supported tier.
There are other ways to watch the film for free, but they come with shorter free trials and a bigger risk if you forget to cancel. Both DIRECTV STREAM and Hulu + Live TV have free trials and carry HBO, so if you are looking for a live TV streaming service in addition to wanting to watch “Slave Play. Not a Movie. A Play.” then these could be good options. Both allow you to test out the service, including any add-ons, for free during the trial period.
However, if you do not remember to cancel in time, the fee for a full month of either service is significantly higher than that of Max, especially when paying for the additional tier that includes HBO.
| DTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Get 50% OFF | Sign Up | |||
| $79.99 | $94.99 | $76.99 | $28 | $40 | $40 | $72.99 | ||
| HBO | + $15 | - | + $15 | - | - | - | + $16 | |
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Max
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