Sydney Theatre Company and Goldman Sachs JBWere by arrangement with David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers present
God of Carnage
Something nasty involving the Children and a stick has occurred in the playground. It’s time for the Grown-ups to intervene.
The evening starts very civilly. Michel and Veronique – the victim’s parents – are genial hosts. Alain and Annette – the perpetrator’s parents – are gracious guests. That is until the façade of gentility is swept away, sending accusations and recriminations hurtling like missiles between them.
They might be the Grown-ups, but are they mature enough? Do any of them have the moral oomph required to negotiate a just and diplomatic outcome? When the appearance of civility is gone, do they actually care about what is right?
Yasmina Reza, the author of Art and Life x 3, has hit the nail on the head again. In this explosive satire she dares the audience to look beyond individual conflicts to the source of our constant embattlement.
1 hour 35 minutes no interval
Warning: Frequent strong language
BEST NEW COMEDY LAURENCE OLIVIER AWARD 2009
BEST PLAY TONY AWARD 2009
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY TONY AWARD 2009
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY TONY AWARD 2009
ACCESS PERFORMANCES:
Audio Described Performance
Saturday 7 November at 2pm
Tactile tour starts at 11.30am prior to the performance
Patrons for the audio description need to be seated 20 mins prior to the performance.
Captioned Performance
Friday 20 November at 8pm
The captions screens are visible from selected seats in the Drama Theatre. When booking seats for captioned performances, please contact the box office and ensure that you request ‘Caption Seats’ which is suitable for best viewing of the caption screens.
Reviews
"It’s an excellent and often hilarious production of a solid and well-made play" - Sun Herald
"... going straight for the jugular on themes of middle-class pretension, modern parenting, the savage beast beneath the civilised veneer and the failure of conflict resolution by negotiation. A bit like a French David Williamson." - Sunday Telegraph
"...the cast dance their way across Reza's moral minefield with aplomb." - Sydney Morning Herald
"Gale Edwards has drilled them like a platoon of elite soldiers so that the vital timing, comic business and nuances of character are clear, sharp and hilarious." - Stage Noise
Your Say
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Most entertaining production I have seen in ages! Brilliant performances all around. So insightful about human nature with multiple perspectives and so much fun. For me it provided an excellent stimulus for post drama discussion about morality, the managemment of everyday conflict and the unfortunate reality of double standards that we are all so guilty of. - Marian
Slowly peeled away the layers to reveal the savage within. Very amusing, well pitched, well paced. Highly recommended. - James
The God of Carnage was brilliant - so relatable to us at this stage in our lives, we haven't laughed so hard in so long! - Kylie
I saw God of Carnage in London two years ago. It is such a thought provoking play that I wanted to see it again, with a new cast. I thought the Sydney production was wonderful and the equal of the one I had seen. Each actor was superb in the role. It certainly provided plenty of after- theatre discussion and debate! - Brenda
Hard to imagine that a 4 person drama could keep the audience mesmerised for an hour and a half. But they did! A wonderful night's entertainment! - Steven
I thought the play was brillant - very funny - exremely well and cleverly written - one of the best plays I have seen in a while - Cathy
LOVED IT!!!!! we saw so many family and friends (including husband) in this wonderful satire, and had to laugh. What are we humans coming to? Thank you all so much - Anne
One of the most enjoyable plays that we have seen this year. Great script and great acting. - Robert
Wonderful wonderful play! The script is brilliant and the performances likewise. One of the best from a fantastic program, I have loved all the STC lays I have seen this year. - Kribo
It was superb! I almost cried with laughter during several moments in this magnificent production, as well as being touched by the deeper, more serious message delivered by the production re human responsibility. The performances were superb and I can not imagine anyone else playing the characters as successfully. It was a terrific way to finish my 2009 subscription. Well done STC and thank you! - Emma
God of Carnage was brilliant, very funny, very entertaining, each actor amazingly well cast. We laughed out loud. Highly recommended.- Rhonda
I thoroughly enjoyed this play. Helen Thomson was sensational - her scenes towards the end of the play were hilarious! - Stephanie
I have not laughed so hard and for so long for a very long time. It was made even funnier by the number of home truths: the blackberry as an additional player in the drama; our double standards when we compare how we behave to what we expect from our children. Brilliant performances and an inspiring use of the stage. Thank you all so very much for a wonderful evening. - Kate
Absolutely brilliant theatre. As I laughed loudly with everyone elseI realised we were all laughing at own very own behaviour highlighted on stage. Gale Edwards showed us again what a brilliant producer she is, try to never miss her productions, the ending of this one was spectacularly dramatic sending me off on a high note and wondering about my own ways of relating to others and solving conflicts in this life. The fresh smell of tossed tulips at the finale lingers with me still. A truly wonderful afternoon in beautiful Sydney being part of an exuberant audience at the Drama Theatre all added to sharing it with my two good friends. Encore STC, Encore Cate & Andrew! - Elaine
I thoroughly enjoyed God of Carnage, and thought the cast were all fantastic. The development of the relationships and the descent into aggression around an event like the loss of a child's teeth were really true to life.... Altogether excellent theatre which reinforces the high quality of our actors and those whose imaginations bring these plays to life. - Lynda
