L’Odeur de ma Couronne de Papier

This play is part of a personal and symbolic reinterpretation of the myth of the twelve labours of Hercules, more specifically the myth of Cerberus, the guardian of the Underworld. However, the play is not limited to the classical mythological narrative. It is anchored in an intimate and universal dimension, combining the history of Persia with my own testimony.
Here, Cerberus does not only represent the three-headed dog, but becomes a symbol of the forces that protect, nourish and embody the underworld on earth: oppression, tyranny and violence. Through this work, I propose a reflection on memory and oblivion, on voices that have been silenced and those that, despite everything, survive to bear witness.
The play unfolds in the form of linked tableaux, interspersed with narrative monologues, written and performed by myself, which weave a common thread between these episodes. These stories delve into the tormented history of Persia, passing through the great wars, massacres and genocides, until reaching our contemporary era. Far from being a simple historical panorama, these paintings take on a poetic and emotional dimension, each inspired by the verses of great Persian poets such as Ferdowsi, Hâféz, or Hallâj and by my own words, as a witness to this history. Each tableau focuses on a facet of these “Guardians of Hell” – figures of power and tyranny who have left their mark on the ages – and expresses it through an artistic expression where the personal meets the universal.
At the crossroads of music, narrative and poetry, this creation is a living testimony in which history becomes a mirror of our shared humanity. The hells that I summon are not only those of an ancient myth, but the very real ones that continue to shape our lives.