Israeli 'Ketav Club' Celebrates Decade of Word Battles
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
The Israeli "Ketav Club," a spoken word competition founded by Michal Tzur and Yael Biagon-Citron, is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Participants battle with opposing words for seven minutes, with the audience deciding the winner. The club, which started as an underground event, has grown into a respected cultural institution with sold-out shows. A special election-themed event will precede the main anniversary celebration on December 16th.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The "Ketav Club" is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a special event on December 16th.
- Participants in the "Ketav Club" compete by defending opposing words for up to seven minutes.
- The audience at "Ketav Club" events determines the winner of each word battle.
- The club was founded by Michal Tzur and Yael Biagon-Citron, inspired by an American format.
- A special election-themed event will take place on the same day as the anniversary celebration.
- Notable participants have included Noa Koler and Guri Alfi.
The "Ketav Club" (Writers' Club), a unique Israeli cultural institution where writers, poets, and stand-up comedians compete using words, is preparing to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Founded by Michal Tzur and Yael Biagon-Citron, the club has evolved from an underground event into a respected platform for spoken word artistry, attracting a loyal community of creators and audiences.
The club's format involves six participants each evening, divided into three pairs. Each pair receives a pair of opposing words, and every participant has up to seven minutes to persuade the audience to favor their chosen word in a pre-written text. The audience then decides the winner, who receives a wooden snake toy, while the loser gets gummy snakes.
Yael Biagon-Citron, a theater director and artistic director at Neve Schechter Center in Tel Aviv, and Michal Tzur, a screenwriter and author, were inspired by the American "Write Club" format they encountered in Atlanta in 2015. They brought the concept to Israel, aiming to create a space where individuals from diverse disciplines could hone their writing skills and be challenged in a supportive environment.
The club's tenth-anniversary celebration is scheduled for December 16th at Beit HaHayal. Before that, on the same day, a special election-themed event will take place at Tzavta, featuring two performances. This event will include creators who have lived abroad, such as director Gali Ben-Asher and Rotem Kaplinsky, discussing choices and their implications rather than just political elections.
Over the years, "Ketav Club" has hosted numerous notable participants, including Noa Koler, Guri Alfi, and Shaul Amsterdamsky. The club's success is evident in its sold-out shows and the audience's trust in the quality of the performances, with tickets often selling out regardless of the specific participants.