Radical Space: Djuwa Mroivili, Ashley Stapelfeldt & Munganyende
The Bookshop, our cultural living room on Leidseplein, is a place where art, music and literature come together in a dialogue about identity and expression. This edition of Radical Space connects the musical legacy of James Baldwin with contemporary perspectives on solidarity and artistic freedom.
Location The Bookshop
Run time 60 minutes
Genre Perspective
Language English
Djuwa Mroivili & Ashley Stapelfeldt
With classical pianist Djuwa Mroivili and singer Ashley Stapelfeldt, we explore Baldwin's musical connections with artists such as Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba. Their relationships transcended the personal and were a source of inspiration, artistic expression and self-actualisation.
We explore Baldwin's place in the literary world related to contemporaries from the music world. What connections and freedoms did Baldwin find within the music world? And how can we today, in the spirit of Baldwin, forge alliances between the literary world, the performing arts and music world in our pursuit of dialogue and emancipation?
Whereas Baldwin received negative feedback in his time when, as a Black gay man, he also wanted to write from the perspective of a white gay man, his friend Nina Simone also ran into resistance when, as a young Black girl, she wanted to play classical piano. Another contemporary, Miriam Makeba struggled with the fact that because of her outspoken views, there seemed to be no room and appreciation for her vulnerability and gentleness. From these artists, Djuwa and Ashley therefore play the songs that deal with a love that is unattainable, with internalised homophobia, but also with their strength, hopes and dreams.
Radical Space in The Bookshop
Where The Bookshop stands, there was once an entrance and staircase that gave the working class access to the cheapest seats at the top of our theatre. This separated them from the elite, who entered through the imposing main entrance on the other side of our building. These class divisions are not actively used now, of course, but could it be that legacies of this past live on in the way our sector functions? Radical Space, to be launched in January, aims to break these kinds of patterns. This programme includes workshops, performances and conversations that question class structures in our institutions. Our first editions will focus on the work of James Baldwin and his relationships with other artists and intellectuals of his time. His legacy allows us to re-imagine the theatre as a space for solidarity, coming home and healing.
The Bookshop
The Bookshop is ITA's new cultural living room on Leidseplein. This compact stage offers a space for innovation, reflection and new perspectives. Here, makers, performers and visitors meet for special programmes, from experiments to intimate performances. The Bookshop is a place for everyone, with a focus on accessibility and openness. It is a gift to the city, made possible by the support of more than 500 donors and various funds and partners.
