Ren Powell

Born in California, Ren has (somewhat) settled on the western coast of Norway. She’s published six full-length poetry collections, more than a dozen books of translations, and her playtexts have been performed in Canada, Norway, and the United States. Ren’s own work has been translated into eight languages.

Ren currently teaches at Vågen Upper Secondary School for the Visual and Performing Arts. She has a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from Lancaster University (England), and a BA in Theater Arts from Texas A&M University (USA).

A member of The Norwegian Author’s Union, The Norwegian Guild for Drama & Theatre Instructors, and The Dramatists Guild (US), Ren also served as the International PEN Women Writers’ Committee representative for Human Rights from 2006 to 2008.

Ren’s work often...

Born in California, Ren has (somewhat) settled on the western coast of Norway. She’s published six full-length poetry collections, more than a dozen books of translations, and her playtexts have been performed in Canada, Norway, and the United States. Ren’s own work has been translated into eight languages.

Ren currently teaches at Vågen Upper Secondary School for the Visual and Performing Arts. She has a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from Lancaster University (England), and a BA in Theater Arts from Texas A&M University (USA).

A member of The Norwegian Author’s Union, The Norwegian Guild for Drama & Theatre Instructors, and The Dramatists Guild (US), Ren also served as the International PEN Women Writers’ Committee representative for Human Rights from 2006 to 2008.

Ren’s work often explores connections between mindsets and landscapes—our inner and outer wildernesses.

read more

Scripts

Ripeness is All (An erasure/adaptation of King Lear)

by Ren Powell

Cast Size
12—16
Genre
adaptation,
drama,
movement/physical,
period,
tragedy,
verse

When Queen (King/Sovereign) Leir attempts to abdicate their royal duties, their
actions are met with unexpected avarice and disobedience. Leir's
wrath is unleashed, and their reason reaches its breaking point. In
the ensuing chaos, Leir’s godchild Fallon finds themselves caught
in a political storm that pits generation against generation and
sibling against sibling.

(All roles can be presented as male, female...

When Queen (King/Sovereign) Leir attempts to abdicate their royal duties, their
actions are met with unexpected avarice and disobedience. Leir's
wrath is unleashed, and their reason reaches its breaking point. In
the ensuing chaos, Leir’s godchild Fallon finds themselves caught
in a political storm that pits generation against generation and
sibling against sibling.

(All roles can be presented as male, female, or non-binary.)

read more

Light as Her Bones

by Ren Powell

Cast Size
4
Genre
docudrama/historic,
experimental,
movement/physical

In 1838, Elizabeth Whales receives an unusual marriage proposal from the young inventor and dentist Horace Wells. She is fascinated by his mercurial disposition and looks forward to living the rest of her life by his side, sharing in his highs and lows. But sharing his passions turns out to be more difficult than she had imagined.

In 1838, Elizabeth Whales receives an unusual marriage proposal from the young inventor and dentist Horace Wells. She is fascinated by his mercurial disposition and looks forward to living the rest of her life by his side, sharing in his highs and lows. But sharing his passions turns out to be more difficult than she had imagined.

The Ant Farm

by Ren Powell

Cast Size
2
Genre
drama

After many years of the jet-set life, Talia returns home to attend her mother’s “Celebration of Life”, and to try to help her brother Tor move on. But Talia discovers that they've both outgrown their childhood home in more ways than one.

After many years of the jet-set life, Talia returns home to attend her mother’s “Celebration of Life”, and to try to help her brother Tor move on. But Talia discovers that they've both outgrown their childhood home in more ways than one.