ren_essens

a physical, wordless metamorphosis

ren_essens is a newly created stage work that explores inner and outer transformations that shape our identity.

The performance is also based on Cecilia’s personal experiences with cancer, the treatments it required, and the reflection that process sparked. By purchasing a ticket you will support Finnish cancer research through the Roosa nauha initiative.

The performance is based on the director Cecilia Paul's own experiences of the need to return to her inner core, her essence. It takes inspiration from metamorphoses in the animal and insect world.

Like the butterfly's life cycle, where each step involves destruction and reconstruction, the work depicts a woman's journey from childhood to adulthood. Her struggle to free herself from expectations, traditions and limitations in order to find her own voice, body and power.

Rebecca Solnit's words, “the process of transformation consists almost entirely of decay,” run like a continuous undercurrent in the performance, where change is not portrayed harmoniously, but as a cyclical and often violent movement. Every rebirth requires an end. The living cannot exist without also carrying death within them.

ren_essens is a visual and poetic experience that, through physical expression, opens up existential questions about identity, loss, freedom and survival.

After the performance, we invite you to a discussion with literary scholar and author Sofia Elie and ren_essens creator Cecilia Paul. In an open and relaxed atmosphere, we will explore how we as humans relate to life’s changes and how these changes manifest themselves - in our bodies, in our minds and in the world around us.

Language: Swedish, Finnish or English - depending on requirements.

Press (translated from swedish)

"The quiet moments are the best and most intense in Sirius Teaterns' performance ren_essens." Hufvudstadsbladet | Otto Ekman | 16.1.2026

"Perhaps we experienced a rebirth, and a hope for a better future." Svenska Yle | Tomas Jansson | 17.1.2026

"The last ten years have been an intense, difficult and tumultuous journey for the actress Cecilia Paul, which is now brought to life in the wordless performance." Kyrkpressen | Sofia Torvalds | 14.1.2026

Public feedback (translated from swedish)

“Your performance really spoke to me, both because of what you combined and how you did it. I saw trauma as a shadow protagonist, or an undercurrent, which you ultimately lay bare by ruthlessly holding the shame up in front of the audience, as if posing a screaming question: ‘Who's really the one who should be ashamed of here?’ You are incredibly brave. Your performance is among the bravest I’ve seen in a long time. A very long time.”

“For a brief moment on Saturday afternoon, time stood still as we waited for the hands of the clock to start ticking again. There was no certainty as to how or when it would happen. But there was a sense of hope in the air that something good might be in store.”

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There is a limited amount of Pay What You Can -tickets.

15% of ticket sales will be donated to the Finnish Roosa nauha initiative. The donation will be made as a one-time contribution after the performance season. Read more: https://roosanauha.syopasaatio.fi/tietoa-roosa-nauha-kerayksesta-2/

Also available is a support ticket where you can choose an amount to donate to Sirius Teatern.

For group discount (-5%) for groups over 10 people, please book your tickets through Stage Konepaja ticket sales: [email protected].

If you want to pay with a culture voucher (Smartum, Epassi, Edenred), book your ticket by emailing [email protected] and you will receive payment instructions.

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