Komninos Zervos understands the power of words. After the breakdown of his marriage 30 years ago, he started a diary to collect his thoughts.
Zervos was running a coffee lounge when a group of poets approached him and asked if they could do readings for his customers.
It didn’t take long before he realised the poetry being performed on stage was similar to his own diary entries so, in his words, he decided to “give it a crack”.
Inspired by the likes of 1960s American beat poets Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, his spoken word performances will be centre stage as part of Poetic Licence at Footscray Community Arts Centre from August 27-29.
The Melbourne Writers Festival event will include a mash-up of poetry styles, from spoken word to hip-hop, and performers as young as Dante Sofra, 13.
Zervos says his spoken-word poetry is about his reflections on life and the world around him.
“It’s about living in today’s society; there’s no fiction or fantasy, it’s real life,” he says.
Other performers will include alternative jazz singer-poet Ileini Kabalan, virtuosic rapper and beat boxer Kevin “Y2K” Nugara, and poet Koraly Dimitriadis.
Poetic Licence is at the Footscray Community Arts Centre, 45 Moreland Street, Footscray.
Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 concession. For bookings or more details, phone 9999 1199 or visit bit.ly/1mfjidF
