Episode 160: Lie Low - Ciara Elizabeth Smyth

Persistent and Nasty

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE 2023 SERIES Elaine chats with playwright Ciara Elizabeth Smyth about her new show Lie Low which is on at the Traverse Theatre 3rd-27th August 2023 & Abbey Theatre 17th -29th July 2023. We discuss the play, changing focus from preforming to writing, the importance of Government support for the arts and much more. Tickets for Traverse Theatre https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event/lie-low-festival-23 Abbey Theatre Tickets https://booking.abbeytheatre.ie/events/16365?hidedate TRIGGER WARNING: brief mentions of bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace. LIE LOW Faye’s Afraid. She’s not sleeping, she doesn’t trust ducks and all she’s had to eat this week is a box of dry Rice Crispies. Award-winning new writing, Lie Low makes its Scottish debut as part of the Traverse Festival 2023. Written by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth and directed by Oisín Kearney, Lie Low is a surreal comedy that offers a theatrical exploration into the human brain via the genitals. After a break-in at her home, Faye is working through trauma, but it’s not moving fast enough. A doctor recommends a form of exposure therapy, so she asks her semi-estranged brother Naoise to help. But Naoise has problems and secrets of his own, and soon the power dynamics are shifting about like mercury on a fork. Lie Low is a darkly funny play that looks at how trauma manifests in the body, filled with bizarre humour, striking visuals and brave, whip smart writing and performed by Charlotte McCurry and Michael Patrick. Lie Low is supported by the MAC and Lyric Theatre Belfast. Originally developed with the support of FRINGE LAB, Fishamble, The Mill Theatre and An Táin Arts Centre. Ciara Elizabeth Smyth Ciara Elizabeth Smyth is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter from Dublin. Her plays have been presented by the Abbey Theatre, Fishamble, Dublin Fringe, the MAC and Project Arts Centre. She is under commission with several television production companies and theatre companies across the UK and Ireland. Her 2022 play, LIE LOW, was nominated for two Irish Times Theatre Awards, Best Actress and Best New Play, two Dublin Fringe Awards, Fishamble New Writing Award and Best Performer (won) and is due to go on an international tour 2023/24. Ciara’s debut short film, SLAY + PREPARE, is due to premiere in late 2023. She is a recipient of the Next Generation Award 2020, the Abbey Theatre’s Commemoration Bursary 2021 and a Sharp Shorts 2022 awardee. She has also received funding from Short Circuit’s First Features to develop a debut feature film. Ciara is represented by Nick Marston and Katie Battcock in Curtis Brown. OUR WEBSITE - www.persistentandnasty.co.uk ED FRINGE FORM NEWSLETTER SIGN UP Persistent Pal & Nasty Hero - Pals and Hero Membership Support In The Room - https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/in-the-room Email – [e-mail] Instagram - @persistentandnasty Twitter - @PersistentNasty Coffee Morning Eventbrite - Coffee Morning Tickets LINKTREE - LINKTR.EE Resources Samaritans - Rape Crisis Scotland - Rape Crisis UK ArtsMinds - BAPAM Freelancers Make Theatre Work Stonewall UK - Trevor Project - Mermaids UK Switchboard LGBT+ - GATE PLANNED PARENTHOOD DONATE - DONATE ABORTION SUPPORT NETWORK UK - ASN.COM- DONATE WeAudition offer: For 25% off your monthly subscription quote: NASTY25 Backstage Offers: Get a free 12 months Actor Subscription: https://join.backstage.com/persistentnasty-uk-12m-free/