the poetic labyrinths
The concept of the “poetic labyrinth” created by Henri Jules Julien involves installing a series of “poetic capsules” (short bilingual poetry performances) within a building whose architecture lends itself to the concept. The spectators - in small groups - will experience these poetic capsules one after another.
This is a form of walking performance that adapts wonderfully to the most extravagant architectural settings: the Assayag Building in Casablanca, Villa Bernasconi in Geneva...
Echo chambers - La Bâtie Festival de Genève 2025
The first Poetic Labyrinth, created by Shaeirat under the title Echo Chambers featured performances previously produced by the platform and brought together four of them under the artistic direction of Henri Jules Julien adapted for the magnificent Villa Bernasconi in Geneva on September 12 and 13, 2025.
By and with : Hend Jouda, Rasha Omran, Soukaina Habiballah, Carol Sansour
Poetic Labyrinth - 2d Shaeirat Biennial
Rabat & Casablanca - March-April 2026
Adapted for young Moroccan poets by Henri Jules Julien (artistic direction, staging, set design, French translations) and Soukaina Habiballah (poet selection, writing workshop), the Poetic Labyrinth at the 2nd Shaeirat Biennial brought together five Moroccan poets—three women and two men—paired with five actors and actresses for bilingual poetic performances lasting about ten minutes each. The duos performed their poetic pieces on a loop for several hours in front of successive small groups of ten spectators accompanied by a guide.
In Rabat on March 29, 2026, presented in a bilingual Arabic/English format (translations by Robin Moger), the Poetic Labyrinth took over every space at the Tatmin Cultural Center.
In Casablanca on April 4 and 5, in a bilingual Arabic/French format (translations by Henri Jules Julien), the Poetic Labyrinth unfolded from the basement to the rooftop terraces, passing through the interior passageways and taking the elevators of the Assayag Building (an Art Nouveau architectural gem of Casablanca).
Featuring the poets Farid Abderrahim (in a duet with Yassine Sedki), Khadija Messoudi (in a duet with Selma Naguib), Mohammed Kebdani (in a duet with Othman Benjelloun-Touimi), Nada Raheeqee (in a duet with Hélène Tran), and Safaa Isaad (in a duet with Emna-Zina Thabet)