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Writing the Missing – The Water Trilogy

In a beautiful, startling and mesmeric lyrical dialogue with her brain, the river and the sea, award winning disabled activist, writer and performer Lisette Auton weaves together character and setting to provoke debate and action: 25% of people in the North East are disabled, why do we not take up that cultural space?

It’s three years since the first film bubbled into existence. Who knew what we had in store for us? Can Lisette still be kind when more than ever she feels like a missing? When the world, and you, is full of rage. When the political rhetoric says you do not have value. Where have all the promises gone? What would she say to the blue-dress river-woman if she had the chance and what would she reply? What happened to the newsreader when Brexit, austerity, inflation, soaring prices, food & fuel poverty finally washed up at his door?

Following the success of Durham Book Festival commissioned films Writing the Missing – The River Cycle (winner of The Journal Culture Award 2021 for Performance of the Year) and Writing the Missing – All At Sea, Lisette Auton and Rob Irish come together for the final time in the Water Trilogy to push the creative boundaries of access, words and kindness, with Writing the Missing – Folding Water.

Watch the Water Trilogy here

  • Lisette Auton stands on a wooden table in her dressing gown, feet apart, planting her purple walking stick infront of her. A river runs behind her, with trees and pebbles all around.

    The River Cycle

    ‘Writing the Missing – A River Cycle’ is a new film commissioned for Durham Book Festival which came out of New Narratives of the North East, an ambitious project from New Writing North and the North East Culture Partnership. This film shows the power of disability arts; that access is a right, a right which leads to creative freedom, innovation and wonder. 

  • Lisette Auton standing in the sea with a lie of folded paper boats in front of her. She is wearing a blue and white dress.

    All At Sea

    Writing the Missing – All at Sea is a film commissioned for Durham Book Festival 2021. Director, writer, producer and performer Lisette Auton joins forces once again with filmmaker and editor Rob Irish, to push the creative boundaries of access, words and kindness. We’ll meet you by the waves.

  • Lisette Auton wearing a white gown made of folded paper.

    Folding Water

    Across time and water, in beautiful and startling words, soundscapes and images, award winning disabled activist, writer and performer Lisette Auton weaves together character and setting to provoke debate and action. Lisette asks why she is still folding herself into the impossible. And what would happen if she finally said no?