The Poetry Slam Cyprus 2018 is a poetry competition, in which participants read their original work, dramatising the reading at the same time. Each poet-performer has a maximum of 3 minutes to present his/her poem in front of a 5 member jury and the public. Slam-poets from 6 countries are participating this year. Amongst them is Alex Burkhard, the slam-poet, who is going to represent the German slam-poetry scene in Cyprus.
© Marvin RuppertALEX BURKHARD
(born 1988) is the reigning German-speaking Poetry Slam champion. He also won the Bavarian Poetry Slam title in 2017 and the Munich title in 2014, 2015 and 2016. 2013 he was awarded with a sponsorship by the IBK (International Conference of the neighbouring countries of the Lake of Conastance).
He is touring through the German-speaking countries with his literary cabaret and poetry show „Man kennt das ja“. He's part of several monthly literary shows in Munich and is teaching poetry and creative writing for many Munich literary institutions (Literaturhaus, Lyrik Kabinett, City of Munich).
Collected stories appeared under the title „... und was kann man damit später mal machen?“ (2013; loosely translated to „... and what can you later do with that?“) and „Benutz es! Von der Kunst, es unnötig kompliziert zu machen“ (2017; „Just use it! The Art of making it unnecessarily complicated“). He also published a literary travel book on Rome in 2015.
PRESS REACTIONS ON ALEX BURKHARD
„He's a true champ of the words … he knows all the colours that can be found in texts … With this intense mixture he elates his audience like not many can. There a few who are able to entertain their audience this diversly.“ (Augsburger Allgemeine)
„Burkhards words are a sea of petals, his thoughts a playground.“ (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
„He feels his sentences, every single word, and the audience reconizes this, and is able to feel them, too.“ (Abendzeitung)