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"...above all I laughed hard, felt exhilarated and deeply understood by a group of women who clearly gave their all to this incredible performance."
Meera Sethi
Graphic Designer
"I have now seen 'Da Kink 4 times and I love it more every time! Every woman on stage is either a piece of me or someone I know. Thank you for putting Black women of all shapes and sizes on stage. It is so affirming to see someone who looks like me reflected in a stage play. It's about time!"
Karen Turner
Program Supervisor, Violence Against Women Prevention of the Ministry of Community and Social Services
"My husband and I went to see the play. We're East Indian. His first question when we got there, "don't tell me this is all about sista's". After the first act, it was clear to him the play is about much more. We loved it--from beginning to end we laughed and cried. Definitely a must see...."
Gurpreet
Audience Member
The Herstory of 'da Kink – 'Da Kink in my hair was originally conceptualized as a one womyn show in November 2000. Playwright and comedian Trey Anthony had just recently ended a seven-year relationship, and turned to her computer for consolation.
She wanted to write a play that would focus on the lives of black womyn and authentically reflect the joy, hardship, and struggles of a black womyn's lives. She wanted to incorporate her own personal story and also stories and "gossips" that she has heard to make 'da Kink believable. Months later the first rough draft of da kink was born.
Trey invited six of her "closest friends", (who just happen to be the best female actors in Toronto) over for an informal reading and to get feedback about the pieces that she had written. The feedback was amazing! Her friends convinced Trey that the monologues needed to be heard. Trey had a feeling that she might be on to something but was still a bit skeptical. She decided to hold a public reading of da kink in a small downtown coffee lounge and sent out a public invite via email. She wanted to hear what the monologues would sound like out loud and she also wanted get some objective feedback. Trey expected a small audience, but upon her arrival, saw hundreds of people lining up around the block! The reading was a sold-out hit, and Trey extended it for one more night. Which also immediately sold-out!
During the readings, Trey gave out audience surveys and the response was very positive. People really loved the pieces but some people commented that the pieces were very dark, emotional, and heavy. Trey went back to her computer and began to think about how it was possible to add humor to such serious topics as incest, homophobia, a mother losing her son, and many more painful subjects. That's when her comedic experiences "kicked in" and Trey developed the comedic outrageous character, Novelette, who would bring all the serious pieces together, yet add humor to the play. Trey immediately abandoned the idea of making da Kink into a one womyn's show and invited her friends along for a kinky journey. 'Da Kink in my hair had gone through a rebirth….
'Da Kink in my hair made its first full-length dramatic debut at the Toronto Fringe Festival in July 2001. The play was produced by Plaitform Entertainment which was Trey's production and entertainment company. The "buzz" was already on the street that this was the show to see! The show sold-out every night, with people lining up for hours ahead of the show to get tickets! Disappointed people were turned away nightly! The show was hailed by the Toronto Sun as the "Pick of the Fringe!" The show also received a critic's pick by Now Magazine and was also selected as best cast ensemble. The show also boasted the highest ticket sales of all the shows in the Toronto fringe festival!
Due to the success of the fringe, Trey was asked by the Harbourfront Centre to remount the show again for their Black History, Kuumba festival. All four shows were sold-out weeks ahead of the scheduled performances. 'Da Kink then was asked to be staged at the New York Fringe Festival. At the New York Fringe, it was selected out of 196 Productions, "As the Pick of the New York Fringe!" Later, the cast was invited back to New York to do a private showcase for NBC.
In 2003, Theatre Passe Muraille selected 'da Kink to close its 25th Anniversary season. 'Da Kink ran for three weeks to sold-out audiences and the show received standing ovations every night and received great reviews! 'Da Kink set record box office sales, for Theatre Passe Muraille and was nominated for four Dora Awards. (The Canadian equivalent to the Tony awards). The buzz on this play was hard to ignore!!
Eventually, Canada's largest commercial theatre producers, Mirvish Productions, decided to get Kinky!! The Mirvishes have produced such commercial hits as The Lion King, The Producers, Beauty and the Beast, Miss Saigon, and Hairspray. On January 11th, 2005, 'da Kink opened at their prestigious 2,000 seat theatre, The Princess of Wales Theatre. 'Da Kink was the first Canadian play ever to be staged at the Princess of Wales. The show was an immediate hit! Receiving rave reviews and selling out houses. Due to the demand, the play had to be extended five times!!
'Da Kink is now planning on dominating the U.S market and is set to open in California at the reputable San Diego Repertory Theater on September 16th, 2005. Trey is also currently in development with CBC television and Vision Television to develop a dramatic television series based on the play.
Meanwhile trey plans to tour 'da Kink in my hair across the U.S and Europe. She believes that da Kink is therapeutic to all womyn everywhere regardless of skin color or class. Every womyn needs to get kinky with da kink in my hair!