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Roland Colastica

Roland Colastica - foto Junice Augusta
Roland Colastica - foto Junice Augusta

(Curaçao, 1960) is a writer, poet, playwright, actor and teacher. He made his debut in the 90s, and published, among others, books with poems and stories entitled Rueda di fe and Djis kant'i bo. After that he wrote various children's books and gave presentations at book and theatre festivals in many different countries. He has succesfully presented his monologue Ninga bon on numerous occasions. Another one-man show by Colastica is Fo'i bo kuenta, a tragicomic mixture of stories, poems, sketches, music and songs. He has also participated in international literature festivals, like Een zee van verlangen (2001), Winternachten and Krusa Laman at The Hague, Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire. In 2006 he received the highest cultural award in Curaçao, namely the Premio Cola Debrot for his work in the field of dramaturgy and theatre. He recently finished writing Vuurwerk in mijn hoofd (Fireworks in my Head), a youth novel in Dutch.

(WU 2013 GR)

Archive available for: Roland Colastica

  • Winternachten 2013

    Writers' Fest 2013

    With: Bart Moeyaert, Denise Jannah, Ellen Deckwitz, Guus Janssen, Jaap Cohen, Joke van Leeuwen, Lucas Hüsgen, Marja Pruis, Nico Dijkshoorn, Pieter Steinz, Roland Colastica, Ronald Giphart, Stephan Enter, Wouter Godijn

    The festival closes with a Writers' Fest in the Koninklijke Schouwburg. A programme around Dutch literature, with performances by among others Joke van Leeuwen, Nico Dijkshoorn, Ronald Giphart, Bart Moeyaert, jazz singer Denise Jannah and pianist and composer Guus Janssen. 


    What is the state of affairs in Dutch letters? At the beginning of the year we take stock. Writer and critic Marja Pruis gives her vision on how Dutch literature fares. With music and readings we honour three great writers and poets who passed away in 2012. Queen of jazz and singer Denise Jannah, accompanied by guitarist Robby Alberga, sings a poem by Gerrit Komrij, Holland's foremost poet and promotor of Dutch poets and poetry. Composer and pianist Guus Janssen honours the prolific Dutch writer  Bernlef with a composition for voice and piano. And we'll listen to a recording of poet Rutger Kopland, the grand old man of Dutch poetry. Curaçaoan writer and actor Roland Colastica, who made his debut last year with the children's novel Vuurwerk in mijn hoofd (Fireworks in my Head), tells us a story about his mother tongue, Papiamento, how as a child he got to know Dutch literature, on the importance of reading and telling stories. 

    Presentation of the The Hague literary prizes
    Four writers are awarded with a prize today: Stephan Enter is recipient of the F. Bordewijk Prize for his novel Grip, Wouter Godijn receives the Jan Campert Prize for his book of poetry Hoe H.H. de wereld redde (How H.H. Saved the World), and Lucas Hüsgen receives the J. Greshoff Prize for contemplative prose for his book Nazi te Venlo (Nazi in Venlo). Multitalent Joke van Leeuwen is recipient of the Constantijn Huygens Prize for her entire oeuvre. The afternoon closes with her theatrical word of thanks: a unique performance by Van Leeuwen,  this writer, poet,  illustrator and comedian. In cooperation with the Nederlands Letterenfonds, Stichting Lezen and the Jan Campert Stichting. The prizes are given by the alderman for culture of The Hague, Marjolein de Jong.

  • Winternachten 2013

    World Stories - Wanna Know A Secret?

    With: Gregg Mwendwa, Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, Rabin Baldewsingh, Rodaan Al Galidi, Roland Colastica, Wajahat Ali

    The most beautiful stories from across the world. Citizens from The Hague will tell tell their most beautiful story, including alderman Rabin Baldewsingh and barista Barro Kessler. Foreign students at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague tell their stories to the public. Foreign writers also participate. From Pakistan, Curaçao and Iraq. Kenyan poet Ngwatilo Mawiyoo sings her poems, accompanied by Mark Tuinstra en Serigne Gueye. Her compatriot Gregg Mwendwa works for Hivos in Africa. He tells about art and culture in his region. And about the power of stories. A programme in cooperation with Theater Dakota and Hivos Cultuurfonds. In Dutch and English.

  • Winternachten 2013 – Winternacht 1 - schrijvers, muziek en film op vijf podia

    What I would give my life for

    Four writers were inspired by a confronting question: who or what would I give my life for? Four writers, four pleas for a cause which sets them on fire. As surprising as moving: the stories and songs of inspired writers and storytellers. In Dutch.

  • Antillen/Suriname 2010

    Krusa Laman - Curaçao

    With: Bas Heijne, Bernice Chauly, Dennis Aalse Ensemble, Diana Lebacs, Elia Isenia, Frouwkje Smit, Iman Humaydan, Roland Colastica, Roy Evers, Shrinivási, Yasmine Allas

    On Curaçao the Fundashon pa Planifikashon di Idioma (Foundation for language planning), is the organisational partner for Winternachten. During the festival Krusa Laman on Curaçao all writers and performers will use their own language. Their words will be projected in the local language, Papiamentu. The translations have been taken care of by the FPI. This year's theme 'A sense of belonging' has been translated as the metaphor Kaminda rais a kue tera.
    This theme is leading for the festival in Curaçao, and will be dealt with from different perspectives. A substheme is migration, and migration in literature. For FPI, the Curaçao anthropologist Richenel Ansano wrote a sensitive essay, Between Love and Terror: Having a Sense of Belonging is no Joke. This essay is available for free for the audience.

    The public library of Curaçao also gives special attention to the theme Kaminda rais a kue tera. On 9 April there will be a festive opening of an exhibition on Krusa Laman and the theme, with all sorts of information on the participating writers and artists, their work, countries of origin, etc..

    Then there are the workshops for secondary school pupils, at the schools that will be visited by the authors. Creative writer Elodie Heloise is preparing the children and students for the festival in workshops. During these workshop the pupils will deal with the theme, and deliver materials for the exhibition in the library.

    Of course the theme A Sense of Belonging is also present in the public performances. There are the readings of the authors, but besides this the visual artist Frouwkje Smit has made an artistic slideshow with pictures of a number of well known and lesser known people from the island, including writers and artists. Al the authors were asked to choose their favourite spot on Curaçao, where they feel most at home. They also chose a text with the spot. The slideshow is combined with music, and will be shown on Friday 16 April in Villa Maria, Scharloo. The versatile artist Roland Colastica will be the M.C. of that evening.

  • Antillen/Aruba 2007

    Krusa Laman - Villa Maria Curaçao

    With: Boy Dap, Gabeba Baderoon, Izaline Calister, Jit Narain, Nukila Amal, Ramsey Nasr, Roland Colastica, Sonia Garmers

    An evening with storytelling, music and poetry by Gabeba Baderoon from South Africa, Ramsey Nasr from The Netherlands, Jit Narain from Suriname and Nukila Amal from Indonesia. From Curaçao there will be performances of singer/composer Boy Dap, novelists and poets Sonia Garmers and Joseph (Jopi) Hart, novelist Erich Zielinski and the actress and performer Jennifer Martis. The Curaçao/Dutch singer Izaline Calister sings stories put to music from Curaçao and The Netherlands. She will be accompanied by the percussionist Pernell Luciano Saturnino from Curaçao and the Dutch guitarist Edvard Verhoef. Actor and writer Roland Colastica from Curaçao is the MC of this multifacetted literary and musical evening.

  • Antillen/Aruba 2007

    Krusa Laman - Bonaire

    With: Annie Francees, Frans Booi, Gabeba Baderoon, Izaline Calister, Jit Narain, Monica Clarinda, Nukila Amal, Ramsey Nasr, Roland Colastica

    An evening with storytelling, music and poetry by Gabeba Baderoon from South Africa, Ramsey Nasr from The Netherlands, Jit Narain from Suriname and Nukila Amal from Indonesia. Authors Frans booi, Monica Clarinda and Annie Francis from Bonaire will read from their work. The Curaçao/Dutch singer Izaline Calister sings stories put to music from Curaçao and The Netherlands. She will be accompanied by the percussionist Pernell Luciano Saturnino from Curaçao and the Dutch guitarist Edvard Verhoef. Actor and writer Roland Colastica from Curaçao is the MC of this multifacetted literary evening.

  • Antillen/Aruba 2007

    Crusa Lama - Aruba

    With: Ernesto Rosenstand, Frank Williams, Gabeba Baderoon, Hubert Booi, Ito Tromp, Izaline Calister, Jit Narain, Nukila Amal, Ramsey Nasr, Roland Colastica

    An evening with storytelling, music and poetry by Gabeba Baderoon from South Africa, Ramsey Nasr from The Netherlands, Jit Narain from Suriname and Nukila Amal from Indonesia. The Aruban writers and storytellers Ernesto Rosenstand and Hubert Booi will be interviewd by Ito Tromp. Another Aruban writer, Frank Williams, will read from his work. The Curaçao/Dutch singer Izaline Calister sings stories put to music from Curaçao and The Netherlands. She will be accompanied by the percussionist Pernell Luciano Saturnino from Curaçao and the Dutch guitarist Edvard Verhoef. Actor and writer Roland Colastica uit Curaçao is the MC of this multifacetted literary evening.

  • Antillen 2003

    Krusa Laman - Curaçao - writers evening

    With: Barche Baromeo, Changa Hickinson, Cynthia Mc Leod, Denise Jannah, Frank Martinus Arion, Gibi Bacilio, Laura Quast, Lupe Reyes, Nelleke Noordervliet, Rayda Jacobs, Roland Colastica, Sitok Srengenge

    An evening with readings by writers and poets from South Africa, Suriname, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. With a performance by the Surinamese jazz-singer Denise Jannah, accompanied by local musicians. Jannah sang poems from Suriname, the Antilles and South Africa, accompanied by the Curacaoan guitarist Pierre Dunker and percussionist Ernie Gregorio . The programme was presented by Roland Colastica.

  • Antillen 2003

    Krusa Laman - Curaçao - opening evening

    With: Cynthia Mc Leod, Denise Jannah, Frank Martinus Arion, Nelleke Noordervliet, Rayda Jacobs, Roland Colastica, Sitok Srengenge

    In co-operation with Teatro Luna Blou. Frank Martinus Arion, writer from Curaçao, lead a discussion on the theme 'from fact to fiction', with writers Cynthia McLeod (Suriname), Rayda Jacobs (South-Africa) and Nelleke Noordervliet (Netherlands). These writers, and the Indonesian Sitok Srengenge, read from their work. Also a performance of the Surinamese jazz-singer Denise Jannah, accompanied by the Curaçaoan guitarist Pierre Dunker and percussionist Ernie Gregorio. Jannah sang poems from Suriname, the Antilles, the Netherlands and South-Africa. Presented by Roland Colastica.

  • Antillen 2003

    Krusa Laman - Bonaire

    With: Bòi Antoin, Cecilia Everts, Changa Hickinson, Cynthia Mc Leod, Denise Jannah, Lupe Reyes, Nelleke Noordervliet, Rayda Jacobs, Roland Colastica, Sitok Srengenge

    An evening with readings by writers and poets from South Africa, Suriname, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Bonaire. With a performance by the Surinamese jazz-singer Denise Jannah, accompanied by local musicians. Jannah will sing poems from Suiname, the Antilles and South Africa. The programme was presented by Roland Colastica.

  • Antillen 2003

    Crusa Lama - Aruba

    With: Barche Baromeo, Changa Hickinson, Cynthia Mc Leod, Denise Jannah, Giolina Henriquez, Jacques Thönissen, Jossy Tromp, Nelleke Noordervliet, Rayda Jacobs, Roland Colastica, Sitok Srengenge

    An evening with readings by writers and poets from South Africa, Suriname, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Aruba. With a performance by the Surinamese jazz-singer Denise Jannah, accompanied by local musician Ivan Jansen. Jannah will sing poems from Suiname, the Antilles and South Africa. The programme was presented by Roland Colastica.

  • Winternachten 2002 – Winternacht 2

    Curaçao, Curaçao....

    Roland Colastica is an actor, singer, stand-up comedian, author of children's books and a librarian. Curacao loves him, shortly The Netherlands now feels the same. He presented the program in the foyer of the Theater aan het Spui, where he told his stories and read his poems.

  • Tournee NL 2002

    Winternachten Tilburg

    With: Ed van Eeden, Frank Martinus Arion, Joko Pinurbo, Roland Colastica, Ronald Giphart

    "Many of the problems in the Antilles would be solved if men would understand more about female sexuality", says writer Frank Martinus Arion, famous for his novel Double Play. An evening in Bookshop Gianotten on passion and love in literature in Indonesia, the Netherlands, and the Antilles.