PAIR ARE ELECTED TO PRESTIGIOUS POSITIONS

TWO talented writers have been chosen to document the city in words as Plymouth’s new laureates.

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RC Thomas has been elected as Plymouth Laureate of Words for the next two years after a public vote.

And Issy Powell has been chosen as the new Plymouth Young City Laureate for the next 12 months.

With nearly 2,000 votes cast, RC topped an online poll ahead of other candidates Samantha Carr, Nica Cornell and Cate Taylor.

He follows Dr Rosemarie Corlett’s successful two-year term in the role, created in 2013 with the late Michael Sullivan being the first laureate. Michael was followed by Thom Boulton, in 2016, with playwright Laura Horton becoming the first non-poet to take the post, in 2020. In 2023, Rosemarie was named Plymouth Laureate of Words following a public vote. Poets Helen Thomas, Jon Nash and Bee Jarvis were also shortlisted.

Plymouth Laureate of Words is a creative partnership between Literature Works, Plymouth Culture and The Box.