Our Man by Jamie Thrasivoulou

Our Man explores aspects of masculinity, mental health, criminality, class, loss and addiction within the climate of neoliberal Britain. Thrasivoulou combines strong imagery, wordplay and a distinct Midlands vernacular to convey the world he writes about. The narrative is layered with charismatic wit, dark humour and wry observation. These poems are grounded in a harsh reality that tears through the curtain of manners to reveal the wildlife lurking behind.
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'Jamie Thrasivoulou is by far one of the most exciting, arresting and socially charged voices to emerge from out the current wave of British poetry. His experiences lend themselves to a grander, wider, narrative often perceived to be demanding answers while never fully wavering from their place of origin. Jamie is a poet of the people and the equality they strive for.'
- Anthony Anaxagorou

'These poems are a beautiful blend of insight and awareness, skilful writing, and the darkness of detail. Jamie gives voice the stories that are often ignored, in a way that dares you to ignore them again, and in a way that compels you not to.'
- Casey Bailey

Jamie Thrasivoulou is an award-winning writer, poet, lyricist and workshop facilitator from Derby. His work has appeared in The Morning Star, Burning House Press, Hand Job Zine, The Arsonist, Glove, Razur Cuts, Low Light Magazine, Paper and Ink Zine and Bluecoat Press, amongst others.

His first collection, The Best of a Bad Situation, was released in May 2017 through Silhouette Press. In 2017 Jamie was commissioned to write the poem ‘A Privatised Map of Deprivation’ for the award-winning photographer Jim Mortram’s Small Town Inertia photography collection. The poem, along with work from Jim’s collection, was displayed in the Small Town Inertia exhibition at Side Gallery in Newcastle.

Jamie is the official Derby County Football Club poet; his poem ‘We Are Derby’ is played on the big screen before every home game at Pride Park stadium. In 2018 he became the first poet to perform at the East Midlands derby between DCFC and
Nottingham Forest, where he spat verse to over 31,000 people. He has since performed to over 33,000 against both Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion. ‘We Are Derby’ was played at Wembley stadium during the 2019 EFL Playoff Final.

Jamie won the 2019 Saboteur award for Best Spoken Word Performer, and the project Man Up, which he collaborated on with Restoke, received the award for Best Collaborative Work. In 2018 his musical project Bloque Capitals was joint winner
of the Culture Matters: Bread and Roses award for spoken word and musical collaboration. In January 2019 Jamie was part of the UNISLAM 2019 winning team with the University of Birmingham. He’s currently the writer-in-residence at HMP Foston Hall. Jamie is also a visiting lecturer at Derby University.

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www.jthras.com
Cover image: 'TILNEY1' By Jim Mortram (part of the Small Town Inertia collection)

Content Warning
This collection deals with heavy and graphic depictions of abuse, drug use and violence.