Rolf Hermann
Switzerland
Rolf Hermann, from Valais, was born in Leuk in 1973 and lives in Biel. He writes spoken word, prose, poetry, radio plays and theatre plays, often in dialect, and his work has been widely translated and awarded. His play Das Wunder vom Aletschgletscher will be performed as an open-air production on the Bettmeralp in the summer of 2027.
In the summer of 2025, following an accident, Rolf Hermann spent two weeks in rehabilitation at the Leukerbad Clinic. Between aqua jogging, medical training and the daily challenge of lifting his feet up to the fifth rung of the wall bars, he met people who conquered the day with plenty of defiance and humour. A literary text is currently taking shape from these encounters: witty, playful and only half autobiographical. At this year’s festival, he will offer a glimpse into the growing manuscript – and will return to the baths of the Leukerbad Clinic for the occasion.
Even before the festival, he will explore the poems of his literary godfather Rilke together with the students of OS Leukerbad; they will present the results of the writing workshops at the Leukerbad Literature Festival. Rolf Hermann will also provide a literary accompaniment to the night walk.
Rolf Hermann and Mathias Schenk:
31st Leukerbad International Literary Festival:
