It’s remarkable how someone from Kansas can feel so emotionally connected to a venue and night club in Glasgow that shut in 2015, but here we are. I came across a press release for Brickwork several months ago and was so intrigued that I used it as part of an assignment. Fast forward to its publication and having the chance to actually read more than a blurb, and the anticipation did not disappoint.
In 1991, The Arches, a venue located in the expanse of railway arches underneath Glasgow Central Station, became a space for artists and performers to experiment with new ideas, try new things, and have the opportunity to fail. Brickwork tells the story of the building and the people in it, detailing how theatre and night clubs existed in the same space, the unique and avant-garde culture embodied by The Arches, and the course of events that led to its closure.
Written by comedian David Bratchpiece and author Kirstin Innes, both of whom worked there, Brickwork is constructed through interviews with previous employees and press releases to bring the story of The Arches to life for the reader. I’ve never read anything quite like it, but the conversational construction of the book reinforces the crux of what the Arches was for so many people: a family.
Even for someone far removed from Glasgow and its arts scene, by the end of the book I felt I knew the people talking, knew the banter of old stories, and knew what The Arches would’ve been like in its heyday. The thought of experiencing theatre in its most bizarre form, of discovering artists before their time, and the nostalgia of a time gone by, a time missed, truly pulls you into the story.
All I can say is, I’m sad that I’ll never be able to witness The Arches in all its glory, but I’m thankful that Brickwork gives you a little taste of that magic.
Personal rating: 8.5/10
Recommend? Definitely – a quick, easy, enjoyable read
Re-read? Most likely
Time: 1:50
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