Congratulations – you’re human / ísl: Til hamingju með að vera mannleg is a new performance based on Sigga Soffía’s poetry book, written while undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer in the middle of a pandemic. The performance deals with resistance, endurance and a society of women supporting each other.  It also focuses on the importance of relying on others to survive, on spiritual and physical durability and the clichés that keep coming back to us: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. 

But first and foremost it is about seeing the beautiful in strenous circumstances.

The performance was devised with a working group of dancers, actors, performance makers and musicians and directed by Sigga Soffía. It premiered on the Big Stage of the National Theatre of Iceland on April 19th 2023.

I lived in a 5square meter space in my head
With every meditation the space expanded
In every moment fuelled by chemicals I fled
Into the softness of my mind where I built houses and palaces
Later I could deconstruct my world and rearrange the puzzles
My mind is no longer a defined space
It is nature untouched, a meadow, a singing snipe,
dramatic mountains and rivers,
a bustling sea and calm springs   

Director and choreorgapher: Sigga Soffía Níelsdóttir

Performers: Hallveig Kristín Eiríksdóttir, Díana Rut Kristinsdóttir, Ellen Margrét Bæhrenz, Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir, Svandís Dóra Einarsdóttir, Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir & Sigga Soffía Níelsdóttir.

Assistant Director: Stefán Hallur Stefánsson

Music: Jónas Sen

Scenography and costumes: Brynja Björnsdóttir

Projections: Dodda Maggý

Lights: Jói Frikk

Sound design: Posi

Photography: Marínó Thorlacius

Assistant choreographers: Inga María Olsen, Álfheiður Karlsdóttir