Read Write Yap
New literary festival by the sea
This September, the RWY in Royal William Yard stands for something new: Read Write Yap – a brand-new literary festival celebrating books, stories and the words that shape us, spread across a whole month of events and activities at the Yard. The festival is built around three simple ideas: reading, writing and talking, in whatever form that takes.
Whether you're a passionate bookworm, a curious browser, a family with young children or someone who just likes the idea of sitting somewhere beautiful with a good story, there's something here for you.
What to expect
A series of small happenings and drop-in activities will bring the Yard to life with author talks, storytelling sessions, spoken word, craft workshops and a handful of lighter, more unexpected touches – from a blind date with a book stand, to a stick library for dogs!
The festival is also rooted in place and community. Local authors, independent booksellers, spoken word artists and Plymouth-based creatives sit at its heart, and the month closes with a book fair on the last weekend of September – part market, part celebration, the kind of event where you come for one book and leave with five.
Events and activities
Taking place throughout September, we have an array of events and activities to enjoy. Some will happen for the whole month, others on specific dates. Starting with a silent book club in the Yard’s microbrewery, and ending with a market on The Green celebrating all things reading and writing, there will be something for everyone.
Keep checking this page for updates - more events and activities will be added to the programme.
On all month long
Join us at any point in September to get involved in an array of bookish activities.
SECOND HAND BOOK STALL
1-30 September
Pop-Up Shop, Unit 5, Arcade, Brewhouse, Royal William Yard
The Pop-Up Market shop is home to a second-hand bookstall for the whole of September. Come and browse a shifting selection of preloved titles, and leave with a tome or two.
BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK
1-30 September
Pop-Up Shop, Unit 5, Arcade, Brewhouse, Royal William Yard
Your next favourite book could be a complete stranger. Pick up a book, wrapped in brown paper and string, read the clue – genre, mood, a hint of what’s inside – and take a chance. Pick from a mix of new and second-hand books for a small fee.
BIG LITTLE STORY COMPETITION
1-30 September
Pebble, Unit 2, Arcade, Brewhouse, Royal William Yard
Calling all creative children! Pebble, the family-run childrenswear and womenswear boutique in the Arcade, is running a short story competition for young writers throughout September. Two age categories: 5-7 years and 8-10 years, with one prompt to get you started: "It all started when I found…" Stories should be up to 250 words. Pick up an entry sheet in store, write at home or on the spot, and drop it in the postbox. Every child who enters receives a Storytelling Star certificate, and the winner of each category takes home a hamper containing books and treats.
DOG STICK LIBRARY
1-30 September
Outside Nala’s Pet Co, Arcade, Brewhouse, Royal William Yard
We couldn't have a literary festival without something for the dogs. The stick library is a dedicated spot where four-legged visitors can take a stick, have a very good time with it, and (unlike a library) keep hold of it if they don’t wish to return it. No library card required and no late fees either!
HAIKU POEM DISPLAY
1-30 September
Melville Corner, Royal William Yard
Hai Coo's Trail has been a public installation of haiku and Japanese short form poetry, curated by Plymouth Laureate of Words in conjunction with Literature Works. This has been a trail across the city, following Hai Coo the Pigeon around Plymouth's streets and shop windows, and we are bringing all 20 poems together in one place.
200 EXHIBITION
1-30 September
11am – 5pm
Melville Corner, Royal William Yard
Read Write Yap is a celebration of stories in all their forms – and the 200 Exhibition is full of them. Royal William Yard’s free, self-guided history exhibition brings together extensive research, original documents, letters, books, and personal testimonials into an exhibition with plenty to read and discover.
Dates for your diary
Happening on specific dates during September, book your place at these themed events.
SILENT BOOK CLUB
2 September
Arrival 6:30pm for 7pm start
Steel Brew
Bring a book you love or choose one from the curated pop-up bookshop on the night, find a comfortable spot, grab a drink from the Yard’s microbrewery, and read. The aim is to create a calm, inclusive space that encourages people to slow down, unwind, and reconnect with reading. Arrive from 6.30pm, silent reading runs 7–8pm, then stay on for a chat and browse books for sale – hosted by Anywhere Booksellers. No Booking Required
A NEW MYTHOLOGY FOR PLYMOUTH SOUND
4 September
4-6:30pm
Royal William Yard Marina
Enjoy sea creatures, myths and tall tales on land and at sea! Plymouth Laureate of Words takes a crew out onto Plymouth Sound to hunt for myths, folktales and the creatures lurking in the deep. Part onshore workshop, part boat trip, part collaborative storytelling – participants will gather their evidence on the water before returning to shore to piece together an original tale. No writing experience needed. Families welcome, ages 8 and up. 4-4:45pm: onshore workshop. 4:45-5:45pm: boat trip. 5:45-6:30pm: onshore workshop. Tickets £5, book here.
FULLY BOOKED – BOOK CLUB
4 September
6-8pm
Tipple Cellar
The Yard's regular book club gets a festival edition. Fully Booked is a no-pressure, no-set-reading book club – bring whatever you're currently reading and a title you'd recommend, swap books if you like, and enjoy the conversation. For September's session, they're taking over The Tipple Cellar: a speakeasy-style lounge stocking over 500 spirits and fine foods, tucked into the Arcade inside the Grade I listed Brewhouse building. Grab a glass, settle in, come as you are. No cost – book your place here.
HISTORY CRUISE WITH CHRIS ROBINSON
4 September
6-8pm
Royal William Yard Marina
Hear our history; step aboard and be guided by Plymouth historian Chris Robinson, on a richly narrated journey that tells the story of Britain through its relationship with the sea. Cruise around Plymouth Sound, taking in the waterfront that shaped a city and the stories behind it. From the creation of Royal William Yard to Plymouth's rise as a Naval powerhouse, global trade and centuries of maritime history – it’s a tale told on the water. Tickets £15 per person, book here.
A MARITIME MASTERPIECE – PLYMOUTH WALKING TOURS
5, 8, 18, 27 September
2pm
Hear all about it; Plymouth Walking Tours brings a 70-minute guided walk to Read Write Yap this September, winding through Royal William Yard and out to the views at Devil's Point Park. Naval history, Georgian architecture and the stories behind one of Europe's most extraordinary listed sites – all told on foot, in the open air. No prior knowledge needed, just comfortable shoes. Book via Plymouth Walking Tours here.
YARNS AT THE YARD
7 September
Steel Brew, Royal William Yard
7-9pm
Four local writers take to the stage at Steel Brew for an evening of live spoken word hosted by Plymouth’s Laureate of Words, Richard Thomas. The line-up brings together Mélisande Fitzsimons, whose sixth poetry collection is due this autumn; Kate Kreke, a Chicago-born South Hams poet published in a vending machine (among other places); Steve Spence, whose debut collection was shortlisted for the Forward Prize; and Richard Thomas himself. Varied in style, voice and form – poetry, fiction, non-fiction all welcome. Six open mic slots are also available for anyone who wants to step up. Book your place here
ART EXPLORA – MOBILE EXHIBITION
12–13 September
Royal William Yard
A mobile gallery rolls into Royal William Yard, with a curated exhibition from the Government Art Collection directly on the doorstep. The exhibition, Shaped by the Sea, explores humanity's complex relationship with the ocean through historic works by JMW Turner and Thomas Luny alongside contemporary pieces from Lubaina Himid, Zineb Sedira and Anya Gallaccio, among others. View, read and hear all about maritime history, climate change, British identity and more.
HISTORY OF STONEHOUSE – TALK BY CHRIS ROBINSON
23 September
The Tipple Cellar, Unit 1, Arcade, Brewhouse, Royal William Yard
Published author and local historian, Chris Robinson, turns his eye to the neighbourhood on the Yard's doorstep. One of his characteristically rich visual talks, this session charts the story of Stonehouse from its ancient roots and military significance through to the docks, the Blitz and post-war redevelopment. A neighbourhood with more history than most – and a storyteller who knows exactly how to bring it to life. Booking details to follow.
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
25 September onwards
Everyman Cinema, Melville building, Royal William Yard
The perfect Read Write Yap closing weekend – from book to the big screen. Jane Austen’s very first novel gets a fresh treatment from BAFTA-nominated director Georgia Oakley, adapted by bestselling novelist Diana Reid. Daisy Edgar-Jones plays the steady, sensible Elinor Dashwood; Esmé Creed-Miles is her younger sister Marianne, all feeling and no filter. Some stories never go out of fashion. Relax in Everyman’s sumptuous setting, with food and drink delivered to your velvet sofa. Book here.
FAMILY WORKSHOP WITH PLYMOUTH’S LAUREATE OF WORDS
26 September
10am-12pm
Mills Bakery, Royal William Yard
If you've ever thought poetry isn't for you, this is the workshop to change your mind. Plymouth’s Laureate of Words, Richard Thomas, leads a playful, hands-on session combining expressive poetry with abstract art, using shape, colour and texture to explore emotion – with Plymouth Sound as the backdrop. No experience needed, no wrong answers. All materials provided. Suitable for adults and children aged 8 and up. Booking details to follow.
POETRY & ART WORKSHOP
26 September
Mills Bakery, Royal William Yard
Lose yourself in a beautiful world of words and illustration. Bring a poem, or write your own, and in this hands-on workshop, you will bring it to life through illustration. Print, paint or pattern – it’s a chance to be curious and creative. Session run by acclaimed local artist, Jayne Ashenbury. Tickets are £30 and can be booked here.
READ WRITE YAP MARKET
27 September
10am – 3pm
The Green
The grand finale. From the team behind Royal William Yard's popular Good Food and Craft Market comes a celebration of everything Read Write Yap has been building towards all month. Authors, independent booksellers, and book-themed artisans take over The Green for a morning of browsing, buying and soaking it all in. Whether you've been with us all September or this is your first taste of the festival, come and make a day of it.
Pick up a book in the Yard
Read Write Yap runs across the whole of Royal William Yard – and that includes its bookshelves. Several businesses at have their own book collections, open to anyone to browse, borrow or donate to throughout the month and beyond.
YOKE the Salon
What started when clients began arriving with their own books instead of reaching for magazines has grown into something genuinely special. YOKE has curated a library of short essays and poems covering immigration, racism, feminism and LGBTQ+ issues – a deliberately considered collection for its clients. YOKE also runs Fully Booked, a free monthly book club that brings people together over books.
Seco Lounge
The shelves at Seco Lounge are stocked and open – take a book, leave a book, or settle in with something from the collection and a drink. Seco Lounge is also part of a national partnership with Simon and Schuster, running the Coffee and Crime Book Club in collaboration with The Likely Suspects, their crime and thriller community. Each month a Book of the Month is spotlighted, with author interviews, giveaways and the chance to buy a copy with proceeds going to a local independent bookshop. Find out more here.
BLOCK Café and BLOCK Workspace
Books to read, borrow and pass on at both BLOCK locations at Royal William Yard. Whether you're stopping for a coffee or settling in for a working day, the shelves are there to dip into.
Year of reading
Read Write Yap launches during the National Year of Reading – a Department for Education initiative championing reading not as obligation, but as one of life's genuine pleasures. At Royal William Yard, we think that's an idea worth celebrating. Find out more here.
