Project: Barpuru

At the Zaans Cultuurhuis, we aim to provide a platform for stories, art forms, and cultural traditions that are still underrepresented on Dutch stages. That is why we are giving the Barpuru theater group the space and support they need to further develop and perform their unique form of spoken-word art.

Barpuru means “Cry from the Heart.” The group consists of spoken-word artists with Surinamese roots who bring poems to life by combining poetry with theater, authentic Surinamese music, and dance. This art form, also known as “poetry aloud,” has a long tradition in Suriname, but has largely disappeared from Dutch theaters in recent decades.

Suriname’s independence is the central theme of their new performance. The actors explore the events leading up to it, the ideals that prevailed at the time, and the consequences of independence for Suriname and for Surinamese people in the Netherlands. In doing so, the performance invites the audience not only to reflect on the past, but also to engage in a conversation with one another about identity, solidarity, and the future.

Starting in September, Barpuru will be rehearsing weekly at the Zaans Cultuurhuis. In our role as a cultural center, we support the group in the artistic and technical development of the production, its presentation, and reaching a wider audience. In November, the performance will be staged here as part of a Suriname weekend, in collaboration with, among others, the Surinamese School in Zaandam.

By providing this space, we aim to help raise the profile of Surinamese stories and creators in the Zaanstreek region. At the same time, we are helping to ensure that an authentic art form is passed on to new generations. In this way, the Zaans Cultuurhuis continues to grow as a place where different cultures not only come together, but can also create, develop, and share their own stories.