Contortionist, snake-woman, slug. I bend into your imagination…
Combining trapeze, contortion, performance art and power ballad, this intimate solo explores romanticised depictions of the female victim – à la Twin Peaks’ Laura Palmer – alongside the intoxicating sexualisation of the supple and bending body of the contortionist.
Enter the realm of Elise Reine in this claustrophobic reckoning with the comfort of dehumanisation.
Elise Bjerkelund Reine is a circus performer and performance creator based in Copenhagen. After 23 years on the trapeze, and as a contortionist in every conceivable position, she uses her circus language to push boundaries and norms, exploring experimental and political topics. In 2023-24 as artist in residence at Östgotateatern, Sweden Reine created 5 performances collected in the manifesto “How far are you willing to Bend”. The Shedding is chapter 4 of the collection.
Credits
CONCEPT & PERFORMER: Elise Bjerkelund Reine
TEXT: Kajsa Bohlin
SCENOGRAPHY, LIGHTING & SOUND DESIGN: Hjalmar Nilsson
OUTSIDE EYE: Marcelo Nunes, Kajsa Bohlin
MAKE UP DESIGN: John Hanna
COSTUME: Helle Karlsson/costume atelier at Östgötateatern
CONCEPT-PHOTOGRAPHY: Klara G
PERFORMANCE PHOTOS: Andreas Bergmann Steen
- Photography by: Karla G
Created in collaboration with: Östgötateatern/X-scenen(SE) as a part of ‘how far are you willing to bend?’ performance manifesto.
co/production for vol.2: AFUK scene(DK), Glimt Amager(DK)