House of Lies
House of Lies
Rehearsed reading
Scottish playwright George Byatt’s House of Lies is revisited here in a rehearsed reading directed by his son, Andrew Byatt.
House of Lies by George Byatt is a touching play exploring the truths we are presented with throughout our lives. Even facing death we are lied to.
Theatre producer Verity lies dying of Cancer in hospital and reaches out to Andrew with whom she had worked years ago. Were they lovers?
In this triangle is a younger woman also called Verity who objects to Andrew visiting the dying woman. Jealousy and suspicion leave Andrew and the younger Verity at loggerheads.
He loves them both but for many different reasons.
“We live in a house of lies” he said,
“Father Christmas is the first lie: the basis of all future lies about the Family, the State, the Nation- war….poverty…disease. Santa, the Patron Saint of consumerism. It’s the child’s first introduction to the lie that’s seen to be a lie but has to be acted on as though it were the truth. It’s like all the things that follow. The all knowing parent or teacher: The Holy Men, the killers we call soldiers, the caring policeman.“
The same applies to Benevolent Industrialists and Disinterested Politicians. The two groups that the Italian Dario Fo calls the Gravediggers of Humanity. They’re all around us digging away.
But, no matter where we turn – parents, teachers, lecturers, professors, preachers, politicians- especially politicians – experts, advisors, scientists, officials, foremen, bosses, bishops, generals, admirals, air Marshall’s, prime ministers, presidents…all of them – producing lies and asking us to accept them as truth.
We live in a house of Lies”
Andrew has done seasons at many theatres including the Lyceum Edinburgh and the National in London. He was creator and Artistic Director of the Scottish Actors Studio for 14 years producing hundreds of World class workshops. He was Producer and co founder of THEATRE PKF (Peace Keeping Force) with his Prix D’Italia award winning playwright father George Byatt.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Venue: Studio
Date: 14 Feb
Time: 6pm
Running time: 1 hour
Ticket Info or call box office 01796 484626
Starring:
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Simone Lahbib
Verity
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Ceit Kearney
Younger Verity
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Andrew Byatt
Man
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