The 13th International Interdisciplinary Literature Festival SARDAM returns to Limassol from 25-28 September, featuring acclaimed writers and performers from six countries in a celebration of contemporary literary performance.
This year’s guest of honour is Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet Danez Smith from Minnesota, who joins performers from Ireland, Finland, Iceland, Greece, and Cyprus for four days of live performances, workshops, and collaborative events.
The festival, which has played a pivotal role in developing literary performance in Cyprus since its inception, combines literature and speech with contemporary expression forms including theatre, music, spoken word, dance, and visual arts.
“Literature and speech are combined with contemporary or traditional means of expression,” organisers stated, highlighting the festival’s interdisciplinary approach to literary performance.
Pulitzer nominee Danez Smith headlines guest performers
Danez Smith brings an impressive portfolio of accolades including the Forward Prize, Minnesota Book Award for Poetry, Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry, and Kate Tufts Discovery Award alongside their Pulitzer nomination.
Other international guests include Irish poet-performer Stephen James Smith, who has shared stages with Eddie Vedder, Patti Smith, and Bono, and Finnish multilingual performer Maja Jantar.
The programme also features Icelandic poet and soprano Hlín Leifsdóttir performing alongside Greek composer Morton, and British-Cypriot academic Alev Adil, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Greek participants include poet-performer Tasos Sagris, director Maria Kyriakou, and writers Evi Lampropoulou and Konstantinos Papacharalampos, whilst local performers include Maria Philippou, Fisherwomxn, Tuğçe Tekhanli, Kalia Maliali, and Alexandros Adamidis.
Four-day programme combines workshops with evening shows
The festival opens on 25 September with Smith’s poetry workshop “Personal Machines: Invented Form” at The Old Vinegar Factory, exploring traditional and contemporary poetic forms before creating original structures.
Friday’s programme features Maja Jantar’s sound poetry workshop, followed by the first group performance evening at Synergeio Theater Space. The event includes visual installations by interdisciplinary designer Anastasia Melandinou.
Saturday combines Alev Adil’s catharsis workshop, inspired by trauma research, with the second group performance evening featuring international and local artists.
The festival concludes on Sunday with a spoken word workshop by Greece’s Bad Poetry Social Club, followed by an open mic session and closing concert featuring musician Lefteris Moumtzis.
The festival operates with various ticket options, from single workshop fees of €25 to a full pass covering four workshops and three performance nights for €90. Individual performance passes cost €8, with concessions available.
Organised by aRttitude and sponsored by the Department of Contemporary Culture, the festival receives funding through Culture II and Kypria 2025 programmes.
Information and bookings are available through the festival’s website at sardamfestival.com or by calling 99558358.
