Elise Bjerkelund Reine is a Norwegian circus performer and performance creator based in Copenhagen, trained at AFUK and the Centre National des Arts du Cirque (CNAC) in France. With more than 23 years on the trapeze and as a contortionist, she uses her circus language to explore experimental and political subjects, and also serves as artistic director of Feral Festival. The Shedding is chapter 4 of her performance manifesto 'How far are you willing to Bend', developed during a 2023/24 residency at Östgötateatern in Sweden - a bifrontal solo that confronts the sexualisation of contortionism and romanticised depictions of violence against women.
The Shedding performs at Jacksons Lane in London on May 28, 2026 as part of an international tour.
The Shedding is programmed for Berlin Circus Festival on August 12-13, 2026.
The Shedding toured in Denmark in January 2025 with performances at AFUK, GLiMT Amager and Det Frie Felts Festival in Aarhus.
The duo performance Phobetor, developed with contortionist Adalberto Fernández Torres during a residency at Dynamo Workspace, premiered in September 2024.
During a residency at Östgötateatern in Sweden, Elise Bjerkelund Reine created five performances collected in the manifesto 'How far are you willing to Bend', of which The Shedding is chapter 4.
