It started in Chicago. Bored with the snobbish image of poetry recitals, a certain Marc Smith instigated a type of rapid-fire delivery, performed in contest with other poets. A team of judges and/or the audience vote and at the end of the night, the winner walks off with all the kudos and a little money.
That was in the 1980s. Now, 30 years later, Smith will be in Budapest as guest of honour at the European Championship & Gathering of Poetry Slam 2018. He will be bringing with him Chicago’s Speak Easy Ensemble 2018 and holding a three-day workshop with poets from the Visegrád 4 countries of Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, and surrounding region.
Other guests include Mwende ‘FreeQuency’ Katwiwa, a Kenyan/American and current Women of the World Poetry Slam champion, New York’s Bob Holman, a slam veteran and no stranger to the Budapest stage, and Belgian slammer and championship organiser Philip Meersman. Also appearing will be Luulur, aka Jaan Malin, an Estonian sound poet.
These workshops and Wednesday’s semi-finals take place at Anker’t, before the action moves to Trafó in District IX and Thursday night’s live showcase for Smith’s workshop poets and Chicago ensemble. As part of this ‘Bridging Barriers’ night, he will also be giving a presentation. Friday, 30 November, sees the grand finals at Trafó, starting at 7pm, the jury headed by Bob Holman.
Poets and listeners can then relax with drinks at the Anker’t on Saturday.
European Championship & Gathering of Poetry Slam 2018
27-30 November
Anker’t, District VI. Paulay Ede utca 33 Trafó, District IX. Liliom utca 41
