The Poeticians have been sharing their work with intimate audiences in Beirut, Amman and Dubai since 2007. An international collective of writers and word warriors, they read in english, Arabic and French. Forsaking formal structure, they favour a no-rules approach to membership and to poetry. Freedom of expression and the celebration of creativity are at the heart of everything this vibrant and exciting collective stands for. As a special addition to the Hay Festival Beirut, xanadu* will be launching the first volume of poetry collected from the past five years of the Poeticians’ readings and performances...all rants, rambles, musings and lyrical histories collected into a community book that encompasses diverse kinds of poetic writing. Readings by Mazen Zahreddine (English), Saseen Kawzally (Arabic), Zena el Khalil (english), Tina Fish (English), Susan Talhouk (Arabic) and surprise guests. Chaired by Hind Shoufani, founder, curator and MC of the Poeticians Collective.