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Ellen Renton—Home
  • About
  • Poetry
  • Shows
  • Collaborations
  • Other Work
  • News
  • Contact
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Collaborations

Collaborating and experimenting with other artists is central to what I do, and I am always looking for new ways of working with poetry to create multimedia pieces.

  • AISLE

    Film For BBC Culture in Quarantine , 2021

    AISLE is an animated film poem with a vocal soundscape, which explores the disabled experience of lockdown. Set in a supermarket, the film asks its audience to consider everyday acts of ableism.

    AISLE was created with support from Creative Scotland, Unlimited, BBC Arts, and The Space, as part of the Culture in Quarantine strand on BBC iPlayer.

    Watch AISLE on BBC iPlayer

    Credits

    Illustrator/Animator
    Jess Fig
    Writer/Performer
    Ellen Renton
    Music/Sound Production
    Tin Can Audio
    Editor
    Douglas Tyrrell Bunge
    Executive Producers
    Lamia Daboussy and Fiona Morris
    Producer
    Gillian Davies
    In the far background, a blurred illustration of a blue person, wearing a face mask. In the foreground, unblurred, a cartoon woman with albinism is holding a tin close to her face in order to read it. ‘AISLE’ is written across the image in gold outlined letters.
  • The Storr

    Music For Skye Live Festival , 2021

    A musical poem inspired by the Old Man of Storr, created in collaboration with Lord of the Isles for Skye Live Festival 2021.

    The Storr

    SKYE LIVE logo
  • What Athena Saw When Tiresias Looked

    Film For Douglas Tyrrell Bunge , 2021

    Funded by Creative Scotland through an Unlimited Micro Commission

    Supported by Glasgow Tramway

    This contemporary re-imagining of an Ancient Greek myth, told in the languages of poetry, music, and dance, is a story about consequences and their potentially immeasurable reach.

    Athena doesn’t understand how powerful she truly is, and Tiresias doesn’t understand how his actions might affect others. One brief moment that passes between the two characters blows both these truths open. What Athena Saw When Tiresias Looked retells the Ancient Greek myth with contemporary relevance, exploring issues around consent, disability, and gender expectations.

    The film, directed by Douglas Tyrrell Bunge, weaves poetry with an atmospheric soundtrack from Lord of the Isles, and the work of dancers Anu Walters and Douglas Reddan, to create a dynamic account of two young people bound together by their shame, and their mistakes.

    What Athena Saw When Tiresias Looked was commissioned and supported by Unlimited, celebrating the work of disabled artists, with funding from Creative Scotland. The film had a preview showing at The British Museum’s Hidden/Revealed event, and was premiered on Glasgow Tramway’s Tramway TV channel in February 2021.

    Film Poster for “What Athena Saw When Tiresias Looked”: The film’s title in thin font, above abstract, hand drawn recreations of scenes from the film

    Film Poster, designed by Ruaridh Litster-Campbell

    Video

    What Athena Saw When Tiresias Looked- Discussion at the British Museum

    Still from “What Athena Saw When Tiresias Looked”: close up of a man’s face, looking upward and appearing fearful. An out-of-focus forest surrounds him View Image Gallery (5 images) Still from “What Athena Saw When Tiresias Looked”: close up of blood running down a man’s face, his eyes closed Still from “What Athena Saw When Tiresias Looked”: a man stands with his back to the camera in a dark forest. He is looking into a mirror, which reflects the image of a woman dressed in green, who is standing on a beach. Still from “What Athena Saw When Tiresias Looked”: a woman dressed in green is dancing on a beach in early morning light. Six tall mirrors are planted in the sand behind her.She looks graceful and powerful Still from “What Athena Saw When Tiresias Looked”: three tall mirrors are planted in the sand on a beach in the early morning. A woman stands with her back to the camera, facing the mirrors and the sea. In the middle mirror, a man dressed in white is facing the camera.

    Absolutely exquisite

    — Fjord Review
  • Whities 029

    Music For Lord of the Isles, 2020

    EP of the week on Bleep

    A reflective record that touches on themes related to climate change, created in collaboration with Lord of the Isles and released on London-based label AD-93.

     

    Buy Whities 029

    Video

    Listen to ‘Inheritance’

    Press

    Balmy tones evoke feelings of supreme tranquility. This is peak McDonald. Close your eyes and picture those wide open spaces.

    — Resident Advisor

    Credits

    Music written and performed by
    Lord of the Isles
    Poetry written and performed by
    Ellen Renton
    Sleeve Design
    Alex McCullough and Eloise Harris
    Mastered by
    Helmut Erler
    Front cover of "Whities 029". A1 One Lifetime Is Not Enough For Us. A2 Waiting Is Arisaig. B1 Passing (featuring Ellen Renton) B2 Inheritance (featuring Ellen Renton). Mastered by Helmut Erler at Dubplates & Mastering. Designed by Alex McCullough and Eloise Harris. Poems 'Passing' and 'Inheritance' Copyright Ellen Renton. Copyright Whities Recordings limited 2020 United Kingdom. The design is bright and abstract.

    Renton and McDonald find a perfect equilibrium between spoken word and sound.

    — Inverted Audio
  • Parts of the Day

    Film For Douglas Tyrrell Bunge, 2020

    Shortlisted for Ó Bhéal Award Best Poetry Film

    A collaboration created in isolation, Parts of the Day explores the feelings of confusion and listlessness experienced in the early stages of lockdown.

    The film

    Credits

    Film
    Douglas Tyrrell Bunge
    Poem
    Ellen Renton
    Music
    Alan Colthart
    Still from “Parts of the Day”: the reflection of sun setting over the sea in a mirror

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