Vault Festival 2018: Father of Lies

In the underground space of the Vaults theatre, and with plenty of thick fog, Father of Lies presents the true-crime horror of an unsolved murder in West Germany in the early 70s. Influenced by war, witches and gods, two people in an unconventional marriage find themselves involved in a tragedy that triggers (or perhaps develops) the supernatural nature of a haunted place.

The modest set design consists of a projector, lighted candles and lots of artificial fog, leaving space for the action to unfold and the audience to feel part of it. In the manner of a documentary, Father of Lies is part exposition of facts and part performance, with the actors referring to historical sources and event witnesses, which gives weight to the story very effectively. In fact, true crime documentaries were a big inspiration for the creation of the piece’s original material.

Clearly reminiscent of Rosemary’s Baby, this shiver-inducing show is a very original exploration of our fear towards the occult. The actors, Sasha Roberts and Tom Worsley, start the play by quoting a Bible verse about Satan’s strategies, and how lies are his favourite medium of influence. From there, they ask the audience questions about what they believe in, thereby giving them a chance to engage in the mystery: Is there a god? What about spirits? And if there’s a god, is there a devil too?

These questions are prevalent throughout the two-man show, implicitly and explicitly. Both Roberts and Worsley are clearly more focused on asking questions than giving answers, so that their audience can figure out themselves what really happened depending on how their belief systems might craft the truth of these events. All in all, it’s a smart way to tell their story.

For those who are fans of the horror or thriller genres. Father of Lies should not be missed. This is an irresistible, unique and compelling piece of live performance.

Maria Barrios
Photo: Bête Noire Productions

Father of Lies is at Vault Festival 2018 from 28^th February until 4^th March 2018. For further information or to book visit the festival website here.

Watch the trailer for Father of Lies here: