Poetry Slam Dead & Alive opens the Literature Days in Karlsruhe

When living slam voices meet dead poets

To kick off the Literature Days, the Great House of the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe transforms into a stage for the colorful competition between contemporary poetry and literary heritage. In the Poetry Slam Dead & Alive, word artists of the present encounter the great voices of past eras – presented by actors from the ensemble in costume and makeup.

Literary history meets stage energy

This format combines reading, acting, and slam culture into an unusual literary experience. On one side stands the immediate power of language, the pace, and the personal presence of today’s slam poets. On the other side, dead poets appear as dramatic stage figures. Their texts gain a new present immediacy through voice, body, and scenic design.

The audience decides

Philipp Herold and Moritz Konrad moderate the evening and give the competition its own dynamic. The audience takes on the role of the jury. This creates a lively reading atmosphere where literary quality is not only analyzed but directly experienced.

A successful format celebrates its 50th edition

The 50th edition makes Dead & Alive a special date in the Karlsruhe literature and theater calendar. The format stands for the productive encounter of classical poetry, contemporary poetry slam, and performative language art. The production shows how narratives can change when they step from the book space onto the grand stage.

An evening between competition and author encounter

With Dalibor Marković, Tommy & Annika, and Adrian Mulas, distinguished voices from the poetry slam scene participate. Actors from the ensemble embody the literary adversaries from past times. Thus, an evening full of contrasts arises: historical texts meet current rhythms, recitation meets closeness to improvisation, and theater aesthetics meet the direct address of the slam.

Conclusion: Literature becomes a shared event

Visitors can expect a three-hour theater evening with an intermission, intense language art, scenic transformation, and direct audience participation. Those who wish to not only read literature but also experience it in voice, movement, and shared reaction will encounter an extraordinary author experience with the history of poetry at Dead & Alive.

Official channels of Dead & Alive:

• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• Website: https://www.staatstheater-karlsruhe.de/programm/termine/2977/
• Publisher: no official profile found

Sources:

• Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe – Poetry Slam – Dead & Alive
• Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe – Schedule October 2026
• Eventim – Poetry Slam – Dead & Alive