Words can … in Gelsenkirchen: Reading in irgendDorf with word-actions

Words that change the space: Reading in irgendDorf

On August 18, 2026, the irgendDorf in Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf will open its doors for a literary evening that not only presents language but transforms it. Words can … connects anecdotes, stories, narratives, novellas, and poems into word-actions with their own energy – carried by the locals Elke Holland and Norbert Stenkamp.

Literature as a living form

This reading focuses on the sensual side of the text. From the written word, sound, rhythm, and presence emerge. This is where the special quality of the evening lies: literature appears not as a distant object but as an immediate experience, close to voice, posture, and moment. Those who love literary discourse will not experience a sober reading here but a meeting with language art in the best sense.

A space for artistic research

The irgendDorf sees itself as a space for free development, collaborative work, and experimental formats. This atmosphere also shapes the evening. Bochumer Straße in Ückendorf has stood for cultural movement in the Ruhr area for years; right here, the reading atmosphere unfolds between project space, neighborhood, and urban openness. This creates closeness, concentration, and a surprisingly intimate framework for literary quality.

What the audience can expect

At the center are short forms and linguistic condensing that recharge in the presentation. Anecdotes become miniatures, stories become resonance spaces, poems become performative moments. For literature enthusiasts, this creates an evening that not only entertains but also shows how literature gains depth in direct contact with the audience.

Conclusion

Words can … promises an inspiring evening with literary tension, sonorous presence, and a special place in the heart of the Ruhr area. Those who want to experience language art live should not miss this reading.

Official channels of Elke Holland:

• Instagram: No official profile found
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• Website: No official profile found
• Publisher: No official profile found

Sources:

• City of Gelsenkirchen - Words can …
• IrgendDorf - About the project space
• City of Gelsenkirchen - Groups and individual artists
• City of Gelsenkirchen - Pavement Lyrical