De Suriname-trilogie: Woiski vs. Woiski
They’re back! Woiski vs. Woiski, De Gliphoeve and Stepping Stones — the three acclaimed productions through which Orkater and Bijlmer Parktheater tell the story of Surinamese people in the Netherlands. This page is for the production Woiski vs. Woiski.
Part of De Suriname Trilogie
Duration 90 minutes
Genre Musical Theatre
Language Dutch
Volume discount! Visit two performances of De Suriname Trilogie and receive a 10% discount. Visit three performances and receive a 20% discount.
de Suriname-trilogie
To mark the end of 2026, the year in which we commemorate 50 years of Surinamese independence, Orkater, Bijlmer Parktheater and ITA will present the productions one final time from November 2026 onwards. The Suriname trilogy is the theatrical finale to a remarkable year in Dutch and Surinamese history.
Together, the three productions span an era of hope, adversity, connection and vitality: from the 1930s and 1950s in Paramaribo and Amsterdam, via the squatted De Gliphoeve block of flats in Bijlmermeer in the 1970s, to the dreams and dilemmas of the third generation today. Acclaimed by audiences and the press, and awarded at the Dutch Theatre Festival — these three productions undoubtedly belong to the Dutch theatre canon.-|-
A unique opportunity: Two weeks, three performances — individually or as a series, with supporting programmes and special encounters. The entire series can be seen in November at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam. Woiski vs. Woiski and De Gliphoeve can also be seen in the heart of Amsterdam Zuidoost: Bijlmer Parktheater. The full series will also be performed in Rotterdam and The Hague in December.
Woiski vs. Woiski
It is 1936. Max Woiski Sr. is chasing his dream of playing in clubs as a musician. As one of the first Surinamese people in the Netherlands, he wins over many hearts with his infectious music and eventually opens his own nightclub, La Cubana, on Leidseplein in Amsterdam. The atmosphere is magical and his fame is great. But when he brings his son, Max Woiski Jr., to the Netherlands too, this success turns out to be bittersweet.
Woiski vs. Woiski tells the swinging and poignant life story of father and son Woiski and their troubled relationship. Both with each other, and with white Dutch society. Based on the book Bruine bonen en kouseband, Woiski vs. Woiski is the first part of the Surinamese-Dutch trilogy by Orkater and Bijlmer Parktheater about the arrival of Surinamese people in the Netherlands.
Arlecchino nomination for Michiel Blankwaardt
Michiel Blankwaardt was nominated for an Arlecchino, the award for the most impressive supporting male role, for his portrayal of Max Woiski Jr.: “As Woiski Jr., Blankwaardt is fiercely idealistic, deeply disappointed and beautifully desperate.”
Amsterdam District Jury selects Woiski vs. Woiski as best production of the season in 2018
The jury praises the social urgency of Max Woiski’s story. From the jury report: “There is unanimous admiration for the story, which is poignant and characteristic of different generations, yet is presented in such a playful and natural way.”
Reviews
de Volkskrant
“It’s lovely to see that a story about current hot-button issues such as identity and racism can also be told in a bittersweet way. Woiski vs. Woiski, a collaboration between theatre group Orkater and the Bijlmer Parktheater, is cheerful musical theatre about the deeply tragic lives of father and son Woiski.”
NRC
“An exceptionally successful, biographical musical theatre production.”
Credits
Direction Geert Lageveen
Text Bodil de la Parra, Maarten van Hinte, Geert Lageveen
Cast and music Manoushka Zeegelaar Breeveld, Michiel Blankwaardt, Gery Mendes, Mike Libanon
Music Sophie Anglionin, Vernon Chatlein, Gery Mendes
Musical direction Alvin Lewis
Set design Ruben Wijnstok -|-
Costumes Arien de Vries
Choreography Dionne Verwey
Lighting design Stefan Dijkman
Set workshop Emiel Veken
Based on Bruine bonen en kouseband, written by Patrick van den Hanenberg in collaboration with Ronny Woiski.
