Edinburgh Fringe 2024
Lies Where It Falls
Andy Jordan Productions with Ruairi Conaghan (Northern Ireland)
Genre: New Writing, Solo Show, True-life
Venue: C Venues
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
Lies Where It Falls is a compelling and moving exploration of grief, trauma, and the long shadows cast by violence. Conaghan’s ability to navigate these dark waters with both sensitivity and strength makes this a must-see production. It might be a show about personal experience but there is nothing self-indulgent here, just a deeply human story that resonates long after leaving the venue.
Review
Lies Where It Falls is an extraordinary solo performance by Ruairi Conaghan that dives deep into personal trauma and the enduring scars of the Northern Ireland Troubles. This gripping piece, directed by Patrick O’Kane, takes the audience on an emotional journey through Conaghan’s life—from the murder of his uncle by the IRA in 1974 to his own struggles with his physical and mental health decades later.
The show begins with the pivotal moment that changed everything for Conaghan’s family: the day his uncle, Rory Conaghan, was shot on his doorstep while holding his nine year old daughter’s hand. Growing up in the shadow of this brutal event, Conaghan wanted nothing more than to escape Northern Ireland, leaving behind the label of being the namesake and nephew of a murdered judge. He moved to England, studied drama in Liverpool, and for years successfully avoided roles that would remind him of the conflict he had fled.
When Conaghan was offered the role of Patrick Magee—the Brighton bomber—in a play about reconciliation, he faced an internal conflict that forced him to confront the very violence he had spent a lifetime avoiding. That project, as well as deaths of others close to him, began to affect his mental health. At the same time he was offered his dream role, the Player King in Hamlet at the National Theatre, and found yet more reflections of his childhood trauma and became more seriously ill. With the support of family, friends and the company of Hamlet this became a catalyst for deep personal reflection, a journey through health struggles and ultimately writing Lies Where It Falls.
Conaghan’s storytelling is masterful. With tremendous energy and charisma, he guides the audience through the twists and turns of his life, weaving together childhood memories, the trauma of his uncle’s death, and the impact of meeting Magee. The most striking moments come when Conaghan parallels his experience with his work on Hamlet, particularly the speech about the assassination of King Priam of Troy. The haunting connections between his uncle’s murder and this iconic piece of theatre bring a powerful emotional weight to the performance.
The pacing is spot on, and the direction keeps the narrative moving forward with grace. There is minimal use of projected images which isn’t very successful as they are projected on to the black stage curtains so aren’t clear; however, they don’t detract from the show’s power. It’s Conaghan’s raw performance that captivates, holding the audience’s attention from start to finish.
Lies Where It Falls is a compelling and moving exploration of grief, trauma, and the long shadows cast by violence. Conaghan’s ability to navigate these dark waters with both sensitivity and strength makes this a must-see production. It might be a show about personal experience but there is nothing self-indulgent here, just a deeply human story that resonates long after leaving the venue.
