The Power of Poetry is coming towns and cities across the North of England. Find out where you can see the poems here;

• Newcastle and the North East
• Hull and East/North Yorkshire
• Leeds and West/South Yorkshire
• Greater Manchester and North West

What magic happens when, instead of writing alone, poets work together?

“I was listening to the Rolling Stones and asking myself what makes the magic, thinking about how the band have a magic electricity together, an elevated energy that they don’t have as solo artists, but how writing together makes magic happen. And I suddenly thought- why don't poets ever try to write together?” (Robert Montgomery)

Inspired by the Rugby League World Cup strapline “The Power of Together” artist and poet Robert Montgomery has joined forces with Emergency Exit Arts and eight leading poets, to create four, striking, double-sided light poems.

The impressive new mobile artworks explore themes of inclusivity, the sound of the stadium, the joy of reconnecting through sports post-lockdowns and the dynamic nature of rugby league. Mounted on the back of trailers, the poems will be unveiled at Light Night Leeds on Thursday 13th October before heading to Newcastle City Centre where they will be displayed at the inaugural game of the Rugby League World Cup on Saturday 15th October.

The poems will then journey across the North of England stopping off at locations in and around Rugby League World Cup host cities, from civic squares, to stadiums, libraries to local rugby league clubs.

Can you spot all four of the poems as they make their way around the North this autumn?

The Poets and the Poems

Our poets – each with a connection to at least one of our host cities – worked in teams to create the four poems.

• Team 1: Shane Rhodes & Vicky Foster with Robert Montgomery
• Team 2: Jackie Kay & Zaffar Kunial with Robert Montgomery
• Team 3: Louise Wallwein & Jacob Polley with Robert Montgomery
• Team 4: Malika Booker & Sinéad Morrissey with Robert Montgomery

Find out more about the poets here

‘The Power of Poetry’ has been created by Robert Montgomery and Emergency Exit Arts, in collaboration with Malika Booker, Vicky Foster, Jackie Kay, Zaffar Kunial, Sinéad Morrissey, Jacob Polley, Shane Rhodes and Louise Wallwein. Produced by Pinwheel and commissioned by Rugby League World Cup 2021.

This production is part of the RLWC21 Cultural Festival which is generously funded by Arts Council England and delivered in partnership with Newcastle City Council, Hull City Council, Leeds 2023, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Libraries Connected.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Power of Poetry about?

Power of Poetry features impressive new mobile artworks that explore themes of inclusivity, the sound of the stadium, the joy of reconnecting through sports post-lockdowns and the dynamic nature of rugby league. Mounted on the back of trailers, the poems will journey across the North of England stopping off at locations in and around Rugby League World Cup host cities, from civic squares, to stadiums, libraries and to local rugby league clubs.

Who has written the poems?

Artist and poet Robert Montgomery has joined forces with Emergency Exit Arts and eight leading poets, to create four, striking, double-side poems.

Our poets – each with a connection to at least one of our host cities - worked in teams to create the four poems.

• Team 1: Shane Rhodes & Vicky Foster with Robert Montgomery
• Team 2: Jackie Kay & Zaffar Kunial with Robert Montgomery
• Team 3: Louise Wallwein & Jacob Polley with Robert Montgomery
• Team 4: Malika Booker & Sinéad Morrissey with Robert Montgomery

Find out more about the poets here.

How many poems are there?

There are four, striking, double-sided light poems that will be touring the North of England. Can you spot all four of the poems as they make their way around the North this autumn.

Where is Power of Poetry touring to?

Power of Poetry will journey across the North of England stopping off at locations in and around Rugby League World Cup host cities:

• Newcastle and the North East
• Hull and East/North Yorkshire
• Leeds and West/South Yorkshire
• Greater Manchester and the North West

Find out more about where and when you can see the poems here.