Dutch National Opera

KETI KOTI / CLUB RIGHTABOUTNOW @ Dutch National Opera

Co-production of Dutch National Opera & RIGHTABOUTNOW INC.

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Dates

1 July 2022

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Boekmanzaal

Running time

1:30

Tickets

From €7,50 (up to 16) to €10 (incl. free Heri Heri a.o.)

This year, Dutch National Opera and RIGHTABOUTNOW INC. will be joining forces once again to celebrate and commemorate Keti Koti - 'breaking the chains'. Together, we have created a colourful programme that looks back on our colonial past, and gives us an opportunity to continue working with many of our partners, while simultaneously seeking out new collaborations.

KETI KOTI / CLUB RIGHTABOUTNOW @DutchNationalOpera

Many different voices will be included in this programme that will talk about injustice and suffering, but also about pride and resistance – harnessing the imaginative power of song, dance, music, and spoken word. Opera singer Nienke Nasserian Nillesen and pianist Charlie Bo Meyering will perform several songs from the song cycle From the Diary of Sally Hemings, while SMB | Susan Malaika Bailey will recite poetry about freedom fighter Dutty Boukman. Other musical contributions include the kawina choir Mamyo Makandra,the Antillean group Tribu Tambú Groep, DJ All Star Fresh and various African Caribbean old school DJs such as DJ Lilian and DJ Roy C. Choreographer and hiphop dancer Gregory Albertzoon wil bring two dancers with him by the name of Your Eyes Only.

Surinamese cabaret artist Jeffrey Spalburg will be hosting this event. Theatre maker and poet Elisa Costa will read the opening monologue.

What’s more, to mark this important day, we will be serving free Surinamese ginger beer, the Creole dish Moksi Alesi or Heri Heri: a one-pot recipe comprising various root vegetables, plantains, 'bakkeljauw' (dried and salted cod) and a boiled egg. Both dishes have their origin in the African Caribbean’s history of slavery.

National manifestation Theatre for Keti Koti

The long silence is finally being broken and perspectives are starting to shift. As we try to move to a more open and robust society, we are increasingly shining a light on histories that have remained unjustly hidden for a long time. Our colonial past is a dark chapter in our shared national history and its effects can still be felt today. This is why four years ago, we decided it was essential that we reflect on our colonial past and celebrate the abolition of slavery within the context of theatre.

National manifestation Theatre for Keti Koti

And gradually, Theatre for Keti Koti, which focuses on our shared past, became a long-term initiative. At the same time, a collective theatre tradition has been created that will, in time, be just as enduring, embedded and self-evident as the annual Theater Na de Dam tradition.

We strive to do justice to the many voices in our society, which is why Theatre for Keti Koti ties in with our ongoing quest to acknowledge other perspectives and stories that help connect the past and present in a relevant manner. We believe our collaboration with Theatre for Keti Koti and RIGHTABOUTNOW.INC will promote a tradition that will help us celebrate and commemorate this important day as a nation together.

RIGHTABOUTNOW INC.

RIGHTABOUTNOW INC. (RAN INC.) is an interdisciplinary urban production house and centre for the performing arts. Founded by Marjorie Boston and Maarten van Hinte, RAN INC. casts the spotlight on a new generation of creatives and artists by hosting events, exhibitions and social projects in the Netherlands and abroad.

RIGHTABOUTNOW INC.

Boston and Van Hinte have directed and produced a number of interdisciplinary and successful productions, including STATUS with Hans Dagelet and Anton de Bies, TORI with HNTjong and KIBRA SILENSIO with Ritzah Statia (nominated for the Joop Mulder Plak award & winner of the 2021 Amsterdam Fringe Award). Van Hinte also wrote the libretto for How ANANSI freed the stories of the world, which was performed by Dutch National Opera & Ballet. Most recently, he wrote the script for QUEEN OF DISCO, which was directed by Bosten, and is currently touring the country. It is a production that highlights the inevitable rise, the tragic fall and the buoyant rebirth of disco music, while honing in on the life of the flamboyant LGBTQ activist and disco icon Sylvester.

RAN INC. has created a platform for creatives and performers of the big city, who consider hip-hop an essential source of inspiration. It is for artists who think differently and have different perspectives, and who reflect the city's diversity: because DIVERSITY is the most powerful source of cultural renewal and artistic innovation.