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Broadcast live on the BBC from The Cambridge Union Society, the debate between Baldwin — an African American writer, activist, and leading literary voice of the civil rights movement — and William F. Buckley Jr., America’s most prominent conservative intellectual, became one of the most influential debates in race relations in America. Two deeply opposed thinkers confronted one another with passion and conviction, but also within the discipline of civility, reason, and public discourse. Their exchange, recreated in Debate: Balwin Vs Buckley, laid bare the deep divisions at the heart of American democracy that continue to shape present day.
Debate: Balwin Vs Buckley is presented by the Brooklyn-based arts organisation the american vicarious, following UK and US tours, and a London premiere at Stone Nest in 2023. In January 2026, the company will present the London premiere of Our America Queen at Bridewell Theatre, examining the real-life historical figure Kate Chase, the most influential woman in 19th century politics. Earlier this year, the company premiered the genre-defying Fight for America! at Stone Nest, a large-scale participatory art installation and tactical tabletop wargame exploring the events of January 6, 2021.
Casting includes Eric T. Miller (Nyad, 2023) portraying William F. Buckley Jr. opposite Arnell Powell (Hidden Figures, 2016) as James Baldwin. Christopher Wareham (Our American Queen) will return to his role as David Heycock and as well as Tom Kiteley (Wicked: Part One) as Jeremy Burford.
