“If we stop creating joy, then we are lost”, said Dionne Verwey. Because Black Joy is more than a feeling; it is a political movement centered around freedom, peace and joy, a response to the pain of the black community. Black Joy is not only about celebrating joy, but also about finding strength in a history of struggle and survival.

In an Afro-Rotterdam hair salon, Verwey explores how Black Joy can be captured and celebrated in a musical. In this salon, a rhythmic story unfolds about a woman who inherits the hair salon, wants to sell it, but then comes face to face with a community that finds each other right there. Kapsalon, the musical promises a combination of lived pain, euphoric joy and resilience: the basis for an unforgettable experience of community and collective strength.

The Black community is central to this presentation – as inspiration, example and as a powerful tool to show what togetherness, cultural heritage and intergenerational wisdom really mean. Throughout history, the community has endured unimaginable trials and struggles to preserve their humanity. Through all generations, people found strength in togetherness: singing together, making music, and continuing to share stories of resilience and survival.

The story revolves around the legacy of colonialism and migration – about how your perception shifts once you become aware of this legacy. It is also about the big issues that affect the community as a whole, versus the role an individual plays as part of a powerful community with deep roots and wounds.

Work in Progress
A Work in Progress is a performance in the making. A performance that is not yet finished, but that the creators would like to share with audiences. As a visitor, you get a peek into the rehearsal room and help artists on their way to a fully-fledged performance, which will premiere in a future edition of O.