BNT returns with God of Carnage

ANY twisted soul who might get a cathartic release from watching other people’s marriages go ‘boom’ is in for a treat as Ballarat National Theatre prepares to bring God of Carnage to the stage.

BNT is presenting the Ballarat premiere of French playwright Yasmina Reza’s acclaimed Tony and Olivier award-winning play in a new production of the black comedy, directed by Ruby Abbott.

“God of Carnage is a brilliant and biting comedy” Abbott said.

“This play gives us a delicious look at what it means to abandon civility, and decorum, and dive headfirst into savagery.

“We watch as these characters unravel before our very eyes.”

With the aid of vintage rum and razor-sharp sarcasm, the scrip follows what happens when four parents become increasingly childish in their attempts to settle a score.

A playground scuffle brings them together for a cordial meeting but civility unravels in Reza’s biting stage satire that debuted in London in 2008.

What starts with espresso and diplomacy ends in chaos as facades crack and tensions explode.

The fast-paced play takes a hilariously uncomfortable look at modern parenting, social pretence, and the thin line between order and anarchy.

BNT has been producing community theatre since 1938 and is staging God of Carnage in the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute with five shows from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 26 July.

The upcoming dates follow last year’s postponement when one of the cast members fell victim to a mishap, but has now happily returned. Perhaps, the God in question had a hand?

Tickets and more information are at events.humanitix.com/god-of-carnage-bnt