As someone who’s spent more hours than I care to count loitering in backstage corridors, breathing in that peculiar blend of hairspray, damp costumes, and adrenaline, Elaine Garvey’s The Wardrobe Department felt like coming home—albeit to a home full of ghosts. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this debut, but what I found was a gorgeously layered exploration of a young woman’s quiet fight to stitch her life back together, both literally and metaphorically.

We follow Mairéad, a young Irish woman working in the wardrobe department of a rather tatty West End theatre in early 2000s London. She’s overworked, underpaid, and more or less invisible to the glitzy crowd out front. But anyone who’s ever worked behind the scenes will recognise her graft immediately: fixing zips mid-show, washing other people’s underwear in backstage sinks, and enduring the casual, grinding sexism that still lingers in too many dark corners of the industry.

What I loved about Garvey’s writing is how unvarnished it is—honest and quietly lyrical without ever slipping into sentimentality. Mairéad’s voice is wry, sharp, and utterly believable. There’s a sort of emotional restraint to the prose that mirrors the way her character holds herself together. But beneath that, there’s a deep well of feeling—grief, longing, self-doubt—all simmering just under the surface. All this is coupled with a wit and charm that really lifts the prose when needed.

The split between London and rural Ireland isn’t just geographic—it’s psychological. Mairéad is caught between two worlds: the cold damp hedgerows of her youth in Leitrim and Donegal, and the rain-soaked pavements of Soho where she’s trying (and mostly failing) to reinvent herself. The theatre setting is incredibly vivid, and Garvey absolutely nails the texture of backstage life—its small triumphs and humiliations, the camaraderie, the exhaustion, the occasional grotesqueness. If you know theatre, you’ll feel the authenticity in every scene.

This is very much a coming-of-age novel, but it’s not about youthful adventure—it’s about the slower, more difficult process of coming to terms with who you are, especially when that person doesn’t look much like who you hoped to become. Mairéad isn’t chasing stardom or romantic resolution. She’s trying to survive in a world that barely acknowledges her, and that quiet resilience is what makes her so compelling.

The emotional content here is subtle but powerful. I found myself aching for Mairéad —not because she’s tragic, but because she’s so real. Garvey doesn’t offer easy catharsis or neat resolutions. Instead, there’s a beautiful honesty in the way the novel explores what it means to carry your past with you, and how heavy—and sometimes necessary—that weight can be.

If you’re a fan of literary fiction that doesn’t shout but sings quietly in the wings, you’ll appreciate this one. And if, like me, you have a soft spot for the backstage world—the scrappy, hidden engine of theatre—you’ll find a lot to love in these pages.

Verdict: For a debut, this is remarkably assured. An evocative debut steeped in stage dust, memory, and quiet resilience. Elaine Garvey is a writer who understands not only the mechanics of storytelling, but the fragile machinery of the human heart.

The Wardrobe Department is one of those quietly powerful debuts that signals a writer with much to offer. Set in the early 2000s, the novel follows Mairéad, a young Irish woman working behind the scenes as a sewist and general wardrobe-related dogsbody at a struggling West End theatre. It narrates Mairéad’s introspective journey through grief, identity and loneliness. It’s also a powerful portrayal of living as an introvert in a world made for extroverts.

Garvey’s writing style is exceptionally good; modestly lyrical. Her prose is subtle but emotionally sharp — there’s a restrained quality to it, which actually makes the emotional undercurrents hit harder. She has a talent for capturing atmosphere and mood without overdoing the description. The sensory detail is spot on: you can practically feel the dust of the theatre wardrobe, the worn-out, sweat-stained fabrics in Mairéad’s hands, and the numb fatigue that comes from feeling a bit invisible in your own life.

The novel is character-driven, unfolding a series of emotional snapshots that slowly piece together into a fuller picture. Mairéad’s perspective is honest and raw, and her internal world is where most of the action happens. Garvey paints her protagonist with compassion and clarity, revealing the quiet heartbreak and vulnerability behind her stoic front. The supporting cast – mainly fellow theatre staff – are sketched with just enough colour to bring them to life without pulling too much attention away from Mairéad.

The Wardrobe Department’s greatest strength is its authenticity, particularly in how it portrays the work culture and the subtle but relentless casual sexism experienced by the women in the book, no matter their role, age or job. Mairéad’s experiences with workplace misogyny are handled with a light but unflinching touch.

The Irish scenes, when Mairéad returns to Leitrim for a family funeral, felt a little underdeveloped compared to the immediacy of the scenes set in London. But they do answer the question that hovered in the back of my mind throughout the earlier part of the novel: why is Mairéad in London rather than back home, given how miserable she seems to be and how hard her day-to-day life is?

Overall, the novel’s pacing and structure work well — the narrative is more about gradual emotional shifts than dramatic plot turns.

The Wardrobe Department is a beautiful, quietly resonant read, in a style reminiscent of Anne Enright. If you’re drawn to introspective fiction with emotional depth and atmospheric writing, this is one to add to your list, and Garvey is one to watch.

Started off strong, but kind of lost momentum down the road, and felt a bit confused by the end. Sadly not quite what I wanted this to be, but I look forward to reading what Elaine Garvey writes in the future.

I was sent a copy of The Wardrobe Department by Elaine Garvey to read and review by NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It gave a real flavour of the life behind the scenes in a theatre and the essence of London was captured beautifully. I really felt for the protagonist, Mairéad, and felt I got to know her in this engaging but all to brief book. I hope the author brings her back for the next stage of her London life!

i love the cover of this and i liked the sound of the premise but i never got into it and didn't feel connected to the characters. just wasn;t for me!

Mairéad’s life in the gritty, bustling West End theatre is a world of needles, threads, and backroom struggles.

She spends her days mending costumes and avoiding the unspeakable harassment backstage, but her heart is still tethered to the remote home she left behind in Ireland. Caught between the damp grass of Leitrim and the chaotic streets of Soho, Mairéad grapples with the girl she once was and the woman she hopes to become.

With sharp honesty and a unique blend of warmth and sharpness, The Wardrobe Department is a tale of power, abuse, and the courage to face the past.

As Mairéad wrestles with the oppressive forces around her, she must also confront the unsettling truths of her history.

Elaine Garvey’s writing is both impressionistic and vivid, drawing readers into a world where every stitch of fabric tells a story of survival and transformation. If you’re drawn to stories of resilience, change, and personal growth, this is one you won’t want to miss. Elaine Garvey is a voice you’ll want to follow.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Mairéad comes over from Ireland and gets a job in the wardrobe department of a West End theatre. Many authors would use this scenario for a fun aspirational tale but Elaine Harvey opens the doors on what it is actually like to be in a stressful role when you are washing underwear and mending gloves for a minimal wage living in London without friends or a support network. Mairead doesn't like herself and doesn't have the social skills to engage with people. We discover why when she goes back to Ireland for a family funeral, Mairead cab finally can be free to make her own destiny.
A tough fascinating read worth reading to the end.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Canongate Books for the advance review copy.

A novel of two halves, set in the wardrobe department of a London theatre and a small town in Ireland. There are a lot of characters to keep track off, probably too many, but the bustling and frenetic life of back stage is well drawn and the lead character is convincing.

This was quite middle-of-the-road for me; I didn't dislike it, but I also didn't actively enjoy it. However, since finishing I have found myself thinking about it occasionally, and there's something to be said for that. It seems to me that a lot of debut authors recently are trying so hard to Say Something that they end up actually giving us Really Not Much. It was almost too subtle at times, and I found it hard to keep track of which character was which, whether they were important, and their relationship to the protagonist.

This was a story of two halves - set fairly equally between London and Ireland. It opens with Mairead working in London in a Wardrobe Department. I found this section of the book slow and uninspiring. Mairead's life seems dull and lonely, though this pace changes drastically when she is unexpectedly called back home to Ireland following her grandmother's death.

The Irish section of the novel is gritty and compelling to read. There is life and energy during this period and the characters were relatable. Mairead is not there long, but there are many characters who are loud and opinionated and direct. This contrasts enormously with the quiet mouse-like existence of Maread in the earlier section. Before returning to London, Mairead's mother reveals some deep, dark secrets which she had been carrying with her for a long time and will have undoubtedly coloured her life in ways which clearly came as a shock to Mairead. She seems to return to London louder and more strident in her approach to life - which is not liked by everyone.

This is novel which ends in hope, and I could see the transformation which had taken place in Mairead by the end. However, I did not really connect with her and found this a fairly slow read. The setting and pace felt dated, though the novel is set in 2002, a lot of the description and events felt like they could have taken place many years earlier.

This is a book that is more interesting than it is compelling. The author does a great job in bringing to life the daily routine of a wardrobe department at a West end theatre, but the story itself had a slightly odd narrative structure, with a long section describing Mairead’s return to Ireland for a family funeral breaking up the story in the middle. Mairead was not a particularly easy character to identify with either, which made the book feel like a bit of a slog to the end.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

The Wardrobe Department, for me, was more of 3.5 star. It held a lot of promise but for the first two-thirds I struggled to connect or even understand Mairéad and how she behaved. I didn't really like her though loved the environment and other staff members of the wardrobe department. The ins and outs and the requirement of that team, with the strong personalities of actors and actresses one must navigate whilst dressing them, felt wholly real. The casual chit chat and gossip around mugs of tea was authentic and genuine. That part was spotless, I felt I was there but Mairéad was the element that didn't fully fit? She seemed to hold herself back from everyone and failed to engage. She acted like a kicked dog fearful of contact but it wasn't really explained. There was one potential incident but that didn't match her level of aversion. If the story her mother conveyed later was actually Mairéad's, it would make full sense. But no. She also starved herself without much clarity as to why. It just seemed awkward. At the point where I thought I might give up, it turned a corner. The last third felt like it was penned from a different hand. It was more lucid and cohesive. If the entire book had been like that throughout, I would be looking at a five star review. I didn't dislike it, as there were incredibly strong elements, but Mairéad was the one bit that failed to fit until the end.

#gifted

It is 2002 (though you'd be forgiven for feeling it is much more historical than that for the most part), and Mairéad works in the wardrobe department in a small, rundown theatre in London’s West End. She’s left her family at home in the North West of Ireland to begin a new life in London, but Mairead is doleful, unmoored, and lonely, prey to the lecherous ‘boys club’ theatre men and a producer who’s an absolute dose.

Told in fragmented prose that seems to reflect our protagonist's mental state, every moment of Mairéad’s existence in London feels hard fought. She wants to study and improve her meagre existence, but despite this desire to move forward, the past clings to her as distant voices of criticism and doubt echo in her mind, fueling her fears and insecurities.

Then, she heads home to Ireland for a bit, and suddenly, the story really quickens in pace. The past unravels, she comes fully into focus, and I was hooked.

But here’s the thing—I found parts of the London sections a slog, while the Ireland section felt too rushed. The balance was off, and I was left wanting more of what was working and less of what wasn’t.

It’s grand, not great—compelling, raw, realistic characters, a strong premise, but a small bit uneven. That said, there’s real potential here, and I’d be very interested to see what this author does next. 3.5/5

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read via NetGalley and for sending me a physical copy. As always, this is an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Canongate for this eCopy to review

Mairéad works tirelessly in the wardrobe department of a run-down West End theatre in London. Her days are filled with mending shoes, fixing zips, and handwashing underwear. Despite her skill and growing experience, she feels stuck between her demanding job and the life she left behind in Ireland. As she navigates the challenges of backstage life, including avoiding inappropriate behaviour from colleagues and dealing with a bullying producer, Mairéad struggles to find her true identity and the courage to change her present circumstances. The story beautifully captures her journey of self-discovery and the tension between her past and present.

The Wardrobe Department is a poignant and beautifully written novel that delves into the complexities of Mairéad's life. Elaine Garvey's prose is both sharp and tender, capturing the emotional struggles of a young woman caught between two worlds. The depiction of the theatre world is vivid and authentic, adding depth to the narrative.

A heartfelt story and insightful character development.

I felt for Mairead. She is so lonely and uncomfortable in a place where she doesn't feel like she fully belongs to yet. She isn't even comfortable in her own skin. And she is prone to projecting all her insecurities on to how she thinks other people view her.
While the writing style felt distant, to me it perfectly captures Mairead's internal world. The monotony of a job that doesn't bring you joy, interactions with colleagues who you aren't sure are your friends.
Her return to Ireland presented a shift in dynamics, and we really get to see more of her and understand where she is coming from.

I love that by the end, Mairead feels more secure in her decisions and on who she is and on what she wants to do. The book ends on a hopeful note, like the light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

It was so easy to identify with Mairéad – who doesn’t remember a new job, in a new city, away from friends and family? The insecurity, the sense of not fitting in, resenting the sense of entitlement by some of the ‘superiors’ … and raged with her at the assumption that actors, producers had the right to fondle, with no right of reply or refusal. I loved her self-deprecating humour, her reluctance to involve herself, let others get to know her. The beautifully drawn characterisations – especially of her Irish family – puts the reader in her shoes
It’s not Proust, but it’s a really good read with plenty of meat to chew on.

As an Am Dram luvie , I was drawn to this book by its setting in the wardrobe department for London Theatre . The story follows a young Irish girl Mairead who escapes a suffocating family situation to move to London and take up a job working in the wardrobe department of a theatre.
The story follows her day-to-day life in this job and the characters that she meets along the way including spoiled male leads and spiteful department heads. This is not an easy job by any means and she really struggles.
I love the description of the job itself making replacement gloves for example by hand and sourcing seemed stockings from sex shops in Soho
There is a “me too “ element at the end which is shocking but I really loved the absolute end of the novel it was perfect
The author has a clear flowing writing style. The book was an enjoyable read and I found it difficult to put down reading it in one session.
I’d recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a primarily character driven novel with a unique setting of a London Theatre backstage
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book was published on the 13th of February 2025 by Canongate
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, StoryGraph, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com.

It will also appear on Amazon UK

Thanks to Elaine Garvey and NetGalley for this ARC!!

Mairéad is an absolute dream of a protagonist, both understated and full of depth at the same time. I love the way it showed her trying to constantly juggle the expectations placed on her, either backstage or amongst the complex relationships of her family. There was something quite timeless about the way Garvey writes too, at any point it felt quite ‘classic’ in tone but really current at the same time. I really enjoyed it.

The Wardrobe Department uses an intriguing premise that we don't see often. The setting backstage at a London theatre and Mairead's unplanned trip home are well drawn. However, while this is a promising debut, I found that neither situation was mined as thoroughly as possible. It was an enjoyable read,d and I will look out for this author again


Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC

Mairéad, and Irish expat living in London, is working in a rundown West End theatres wardrobe department. Dealing with the “boys club” of actors, directors, and big names in showbiz, Mairead is caught between the girl she was in Ireland and the woman she wants to be in London.

Mairead’s story is told in three parts - Life in London, a fleeting visit back to Ireland, and her return to London. I have to admit I wasn’t sure if this book was for me at the beginning but once we moved onto the Ireland chapter I started to really get into it. I found the dynamic in Mariéads family to be really interesting and it is here that I really learned a lot about Mairead’s character and finally understood her story. I wish this side was explored sooner in the story, but once it was I fully invested in Mariead and her return to London.