Presented on November 23, 2025, at the Limassol International Book Fair, this event traces the development of literary performance in Cyprus before presenting live work by eight Cyprus-based writers and performers.
Maria A. Ioannou introduces the interdisciplinary Sardam festival, established in 2013 to combine literature with sound, music, dance, video, artificial intelligence and other forms. Nora Chatzisotiriou recounts the development of Poetry Slam Cyprus, while Michael-Angelos Englezos presents Poetry Slay and The Openest Mic as participatory communities for new writing and performance.
The speakers distinguish literary performance from conventional readings by placing the author’s body, voice and presence at the centre of the work. Performance allows writers to interact directly with audiences, experiment across disciplines and discover creative possibilities that may remain hidden on the printed page.
The second part features poetry, prose, spoken-word pieces, soundscapes and multilingual performances by eight writers. Their varied approaches demonstrate the breadth of the Cypriot scene and its willingness to engage with identity, technology, conflict, social pressure and the physical qualities of language.
Original Greek title: Η λογοτεχνική περφόρμανς στην Κύπρο
