‘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…
‘da Kink in my hair made it’s 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 its Black History, Kuumba Festival. All four shows sold out weeks ahead of the scheduled performances and the show received standing ovations every night.
In June of 2003 ‘da Kink was remounted at Theatre Passe Muraille. Again the show was a sold-out success, receiving standing ovations every night. The play received the highest box office sales in Theatre Passe Muraille’s history!
‘da Kink was selected by Mirvish Productions, Canada’s largest independent theatre producer of plays such as The Lion King, Hairspray and Mamma Mia!, for a six-week week run which began in January 2005, and which was extended several times, eventually closing at the end of April 2005. It was also the first Canadian play to be produced at the Princess of Wales Theatre.