Against the current
What happens if you swim against the current? In a world where you are easily swept away by news, algorithms, hopeless prospects or being railroaded like a tram on fixed tracks, Generation Z is looking for something to hold on to, a way to stay upright. Daniëlle Zawadi, writer, spoken word performer and literary voice of her generation, turns a poetic eye to that search in her new performance Bewijs maar eens dat we eens een rots waren (Prove we were once a rock). Together with jazz drummer Kobe Gregoir, sound artist Laura Kampman and designer Elsemarijn Hijweege, she weaves a multimedia artwork in which everything is spot on: poetic recitation, musical tension, visuals, and excellent set and costume design. The performance was made at theater and Amsterdam production house Frascati and sets sail – headwind or not – for the North this fall.
About Daniëlle Zawadi
Daniëlle Zawadi (b. 1999) writes prose and performs with spoken word, highlighting her Gen Z experience as a second-generation Dutch citizen with Congolese roots. She is also a literary programmer at Poetry International and Crossing Border. She initiated the spoken word platform Het Zwarte Schaap in The Hague and has won several awards, including the BIPOC Voice Award in 2020. Earlier shows of hers include ‘Alstublieft, Zawadi’ and ‘Ondervonden’, which she performed at Oerol.
Credits
Script, film, concept, & directing: Daniëlle Zawadi
Drums: Kobe Gregoir
Sound poetry & audio collages: Laura Kampan
Costume & decor: Elsemarijn Hijweege