PADDY – The Life and Times of Paddy Armstrong is set to play Belltable on Friday January 31.
At 25, Paddy Armstrong was wrongfully convicted of the Guildford pub bombings. Arrested in 1974, he spent 15 years in prison before his conviction was overturned in 1989.
His story, along with fellow Guildford Four members Gerry Conlon, Paul Hill, and fiancée Carole Richardson, remains a harrowing miscarriage of justice. Coerced into signing false confessions after brutal police interrogations, the group had no involvement with the IRA or the bombings.
Paddy’s 2017 memoir, Life After Life, co-written with Mary-Elaine Tynan, has now been adapted into a play starring Don Wycherley. Premiered in November, the production has captivated audiences with its blend of humour, drama, and historical poignancy. It is the result of a year-long collaborative effort between Wycherley and Tynan, a process enriched by the input of Armstrong’s family.
Mary-Elaine Tynan, an award-winning author, playwright, and documentary maker, co-authored Life After Life after a decade-long collaboration with Armstrong and his family. Her previous work includes the RTE Documentary on One production ‘Small Lives and Great Reputations’.
Don Wycherley, acclaimed for roles in Bachelor’s Walk, Sing Street, and Father Ted, was approached to adapt the memoir for the stage. His experience with one-man shows proved invaluable in transforming Armstrong’s story into a theatrical performance.
The adaptation process began with Tynan and screenwriter Niamh Gleeson drafting an initial script, which Wycherley felt needed reworking. “I met Paddy, and his conversational style and vibrant personality became the cornerstone of the show,” Wycherley explained. The pair refined the script over a year, jettisoning extraneous details to focus on Armstrong’s resilience and humour.
Armstrong’s wife, Caroline, and their children played a crucial role in ensuring the authenticity of the production. Caroline’s friendship with Tynan, formed during their time teaching together, allowed the family to trust Tynan with the memoir. As the play took shape, gaining the family’s approval became Wycherley’s primary concern. “When it’s a living person you’re portraying, you don’t want to mess it up,” he said.
Paddy’s review? “You did a good me!”
The production captures the pain and resilience of Armstrong’s journey, addressing police brutality and wrongful imprisonment while maintaining his humour and indomitable spirit.
Wycherley recounts the horrific details: “The interrogations, the good cop, bad cop routine—it’s brutal. But Paddy’s personality shines through. He’s funny, always making light of situations. That balance is key to the performance.”
One chilling detail Wycherley shares is how, during a prison riot, Armstrong accessed an office and found a note stating: “This man is believed to be innocent.”
Despite such revelations, all police paperwork remains locked away for 70 years.
“They’ve been locked away for 70 years because there’s been too many red faces, and all the people, the police that were involved in putting him away, have all climbed the ladder.
“They knew themselves he was innocent.”
Armstrong’s post-release struggles are poignantly depicted in the play. His memoir details difficulties with relationships, mental health, and rebuilding a life after years of institutionalisation.
Despite this, Armstrong is not bitter. “He’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness,” said Wycherley.
The play also touches on the danger Armstrong faced in prison, targeted as “the bomber” by other inmates. “He wasn’t IRA, never was,” Wycherley clarified. Armstrong had moved to London on the advice of a parish priest to avoid trouble in Belfast. Ironically, this decision led to his wrongful conviction.
Audiences have been deeply moved by the performance. “It’s funny, it’s moving, and it takes you on a journey,” Wycherley said.
The play’s future ambitions include touring the Edinburgh Fringe, New York’s Irish Arts Centre, and possibly Australia.
For now, Paddy: The Life and Times of Paddy Armstrong will play at Belltable on Friday, January 31.
For more on the production and its touring schedule, visit www.lifeandtimesofpaddy.com.
