Join us to savor the fruits of their labor and be inspired through the intimate world of spoken word and performance art. Following the curated set, Velvet Verses powered by Unwanted Words Project and presented by Tuaca Kelly, invites you to step up to the Open Mic.
All forms of literary expression are welcome, and the performances can be in any language, as long as they stay within the 5-minute time limit. Sign-ups will take place during the evening itself. You are especially encouraged to participate in the Open Mic, if...
It is your first time here, at any open mic or first time to share work....
If the work is raw, unpolished and in development...
If your knees knock in nervousness...
If your consonants climb mountains to reach enunciation and coherence (dysphasia) ...
Daddy Dion
Amsterdam-based storyteller, stage performer, and prospective clown Phillip Melchers describes himself as a Human Labrador Retriever. Here is a list of a few of his favorite things: walks, naps, treats, more naps, enthusiastic displays of affection, dogs, and animals that look friendly but might not be (such as bears, sharks or squirrels).
Phillip’s work explores queerness, spirituality, the human shadow, and personal growth. His stories aim to warm the heart and spark laughter, while also addressing the mysterious bouts of deeply felt melancholy that sometimes beset him. Born in the snowy wastes of Canada, he holds to the belief that even in the coldest of times, a little love is enough to break the ice.
Will
Among the towering ranks of seven bookcases adorning his home in The Hague one thing becomes irrefutably clear: Wilbert likes words – lots of words. If he can't find what he seeks in any book, he will try to write it himself. He uses deliberate rhyme and meter cadence to frame his somewhat provocative themes and delivery. Inspired by his volunteer work in the leather community, aspirations, and real life, Will is currently working on a poetry cycle, a long poem, and a novel.
daniel’s lore is a musical project by Daniel Nguyen, a multi-disciplinary songwriter from Vietnam. Each song he writes is a chapter of the lore from when he was a queer kid dealing with the gender norms and social expectation to embracing the queer life and navigating the ups and downs on his journey to find happiness and love. The lyrics are a combination of sass and raw emotions, and the melody will stay in your head for weeks to come!
Lau Zautsen is a visual artist and filmmaker based in Utrecht. Their practice playfully explores and challenges dominant narratives through film, text, and performance. They are also part of the queer performance collective KALEIDO.
Henk B. de Vries
As a lover of history, poetry and literature – writer, storyteller, and founder of the LGBT History Tour in Amsterdam, Henk B. de Vries is well versed in the role community members have assumed to secure equal rites in the Netherlands and around the world. From the devistating HIV/AIDS epidemic and silence surrounding it, to forgotten queer heroes and activists that stood up for all suppressed people, and for those that confronted the binds of addiction and ideation, Henk ensures these stories are not forgotten. Foreshadowing World Pride in Amsterdam, the documentary MAGA: Make Amsterdam Gay Again, follows Henk on his tour through the famous medieval city.
