The Arches Theatre
The Arches Theatre in Glasgow is an exciting multi-artform venue. At it’s core is theatre production but programming includes dance, live music, and exhibitions. The Arches has a unique business strategy of combining late night clubs and visitor attractions to support the professional theatre company and arts venue.
The Arches theatre can be found at 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G2 8DL beneath the Glasgow Central train station
In April 1991 British Rail handed to Andy Arnold the keys for the arches beneath Glasgow central station as a temporary venue for the Mayfest Theatre Festival. 13 years and many productions later Andy is still working there as the Artistic Director of The Arches theatre company.
In-house productions tend to focus on a combination of modern classics – particularly Irish and American -with site-specific and devised pieces designed to exploit the unique characteristics of the building.
Last Autumn The Arches presented a Samuel Beckett season and in February staged a promenade adaptation of Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf. Coming up this summer they have four productions to be presented at the Edinburgh Fringe including Krapp’s Last Tape in a brilliant newly found basement venue. The Arches are also restaging Tam O'Shanter for visits to Alloway and Prague.
Programmed work includes award-winning companies such as, in recent months, The Riot Group, Fabrik and People Show.
As well as encouraging local young artists who want to use the Arches as somewhere to try out new ideas, The Arches has an educational and outreach programme which includes;
- Annual Circus and Theatre Design Summer Schools
- Winter and Spring drama project around primary schools in West Dunbartonshire, and
- Inspiration young people’s festival
- Annual New Works Season whereby Scottish performance companies develop and produce short experimental pieces
- Arches Spring Theatre Festival – combining young and emerging companies with established international groups
- Arches Award for Stage Directors – two new directors each year commissioned to produce a work as part of the Spring Festival
- A large number of visiting company residencies.
- National Review of Live Art events
- Instal Festival events
- Glasgay Festival events
- Celtic Connections Festival events
These events together with a fast growing concert programme, exhibitions, clubs and corporate events staged literally every day, makes The Arches a very busy venue.
For further information on what they have to offer you visit The Arches website
Did you know?
In 1997 The Arches received an award of over £3 million toward the cost of its renovation and refurbishment. The Arches also received funding towards a computerized box office and sound and lighting equipment.
If you would like to apply for a grant towards the cost of a building or equipment visit our Capital funding section. | |