This is what anthony achieves with the play. She gives voice to the “kink”, the coil, the loop, the twist, the flaw, the painful contraction, the frizz, the sharp bend produced when a loop in a line is pulled way too tight, the fit of laughter (for ‘da KinK in my hair is as incredibly funny, as it is moving). In presenting a hairdressing salon as a place of transformation, ‘da KinK in my hair requires that we let the stories wash over us; detangling the knots of denial and confusion; locking the multiple curls and twists of our identities in an act of self acceptance.

In the same way that we never leave a hair stylist’s lair the same way we enter it, the characters in this breathtaking story are not merely attempting to get things straight within themselves, they are, in the words sentiment of the great Marcus Garvey, not endeavouring to remove the kinks from their hair; they are attempting to remove the kinks from their minds.

Djanet Sears

Playwright/Adjunct Professor
University College, University of Toronto

December, 2004

The history of ‘da Kink

‘da Kink in my hair was originally conceptualised as a one womyn show. 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 “gossip” that she heard to make ‘da Kink believable. Seven 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 still was a bit skeptical. She decided to hold a public reading of ‘da Kink in a small downtown coffee lounge and send out a public invite via email. She wanted to hear what the monologues would sound like aloud and get some objective feedback. The reading was a sold-out hit, and trey extended it for one more night which also immediately sold-out!

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 to think how was it possible to add humour to such serious topics as incest, homophobia, police brutality, etc. That’s when her comedic experience “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 a one womyn’s show and invited her friends along for a kinky journey. ‘da Kink in my hair had been reborn…