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. Performed with audience on two sides, the viewer’s act of watching becomes part of the show.
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.
A UK premiere.
Followed by a Q&A with the artist.
“Don’t expect the male or the female gaze, because THE SHEDDING is 100% the Reine gaze.”
Sceneblog.dk
Access: The show will include BSL interpretation by Sherrie Eugene-Hart
Event Info:
This event was part of Circus City 2025 and took place on Thursday 16th October
Venue: Arnolfini
Ticket Price: £25/£17/£13/£10
Image Credits: Featured image – KlaraG, Photographs from Circus City by Anna Barclay