So why a bookshop specialising in stage and screen? Well, firstly, it’s born out of frustration. Frustration of walking into countless high street bookshops and discovering that their section for film, music, stage and entertainment is a shrivelled down “collection” of a quite thoughtless
curation of books on all the above, shoved onto a sliver of book shelving. Normally on the top floor too, out the way, an afterthought. This seems almost shameful. So many plays, films, and musicals have shaped the zeitgeist of our times, given us joy, solace and inspiration that it needs to be celebrated, talked about and explored. Fourth Wall Bookshop will do that and more.
Secondly, in an age of AI overwhelming our everyday lives, I believe books are the last creative outpost that won’t be taken over by some intelligent-to-the-point-of-boring computer. Although, I can see it starting to
creep in – I was given an AI written book on the composer John Williams by my Mum for a recent birthday… it was trash and I treated as such by throwing it in the bin!
Thirdly, these are the books I read, love and admire, so why do I have to endlessly google something to read in this area? Why is there nothing that can show me what I never knew I wanted to read? Why is there not a one-stop-shop for folk fascinated by stage and screen? I don’t know the answer
to that one, but it’s need has been crying out for a longtime and Fourth Wall will fill that void.
FWB will be a bookshop that inspires, intrigues and
delights. It will be fun, a place of refuge for anyone with any interest in
stage and screen, no matter how small. Sometimes, all it takes is spark in
those exploring for the first time, and what follows could be firestorm of
discovery. Who knows where it could lead?
You may a Christopher Nolan screenplay fan, but have you
also seen this book on the production design on The Dark Knight Trilogy? You
may be Tom Stoppard enthusiast, well have you ever thought about writing a play
yourself? Yes? Well maybe this book on how to write a play is the kick up the
bum you need? The possibilities are
boundless and the realm of exploring has no end.
