Rachael Rooney stars in the first full-scale staging of The Girl Who Was Very Good at Lying at Omnibus Theatre, following an award-nominated short run as part of Jermyn Street Theatre’s Footprints Festival.
Award-winning director Fay Lomas directs this new piece by multi-award nominated playwright Eoin McAndrew. The creative team includes Amy Hill (Lighting Design), Lex Kosanke (Sound Design), Georgina Makhubele (Movement Direction) and Anna Kezia Williams (Set and Costume Design).
The production opens at Omnibus Theatre on 4 November, with previews from 2 November, and runs until 21 November.
You’re starring in The Girl Who Was Very Good at Lying at Omnibus Theatre, what can you tell us about the play?
It’s essentially about lying. A deep dive of sorts into the pros and cons of it, and most importantly the uncomfortable truth at its core. One girl starts the day leading a handsome American around her small Irish town, only to finish it having had the very foundations of her character called into questions.
How has it developed since its short run as part of Jermyn Street Theatre’s Footprints Festival?
Catriona is bigger and bolder, and has just a little bit more to lose this time round. We’ve had the time and the space to expand out on Catriona’s reasoning behind her lies. Why she feels this need to fabricate everything around her in order to feel worthy of someone’s attention. Everyone at the Omnibus have been amazing and made the whole process so easy.
What appealed to you most about this play when you first read the script?
When I first read Eoin’s amazing script, that thing happened. I straight away started speaking it out loud. The characters and the voices felt really clear from just reading it straight off the page. I don’t know how he’s done it, but Eoin has managed to worm himself into the mind of a teenage girl from Northern Ireland. I don’t know how he’s managed it, I’m just glad he did.
Tell us more about your character; what do you like most about Catriona?
I would say that Catriona’s central trait is her quest to fight off an ever-present existential crisis. She over stimulates herself in every way possible in order to escape the present. She’s so violently alive when she’s daydreaming but her living environment is so controlled and cushioned that she has no way of expressing this in the real world.
My favourite thing about Catriona is her bravery. She isn’t afraid of being bold. She is at constant risk of embarrassing herself or failing, and yet she soldiers on. I really respect that. It’s something I think we could all do with a bit more of – bravery.
How do you think audiences will react to a character that tells such outrageous stories?
My greatest hope for the audience would be that they don’t leave with answers. Catriona’s a complex person and although she’ll invite you in with warm arms, you might not feel the same way about her straight away. You’ll laugh with her, squirm at her awkwardness, you might even end up loving her. But, my big hope is that you understand her.
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to see The Girl Who Was Very Good at Lying?
Why not?
The Girl Who Was Very Good at Lying, starring Rachael Rooney is at The Omnibus Theatre from 2nd November 2021.
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