Carnage ensues at 16th Ave Theatre

The latest show out of 16th Ave Theatre is a ‘comedy of manner, without the manners' that's guaranteed to leave you in stitches.

The theatre company presents French playwright Yasmina Reza's internationally acclaimed play God of Carnage, which opened Wednesday night and is onstage until September 10.


The stars of 16th Ave Theatre's latest production God of Carnage, from left: Stephen Ormsby, Gin Mabey, Frazer Smith and Michelle De Jong. Supplied Photos.

The one-act play is centred on a ‘civilised discussion' between two sets of parents whose children are involved in a playground punch-up, which soon degenerates into a flurry of irrational arguments and childish chaos.

God of Carnage stars talented local actors Stephen Ormsby, Gin Mabey, Frazer Smith and Michelle De Jong, and is directed by Ben Hambling.

'I wanted to find a script for the actors to get their teeth into. Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage gives us this,” says Ben.

'[The] clever script addresses the very real parenting issues of conflict resolution on behalf of one's child, mixed up with humour, that as adults we really shouldn't laugh at considering the situation.”

Originally written in French and titled ‘Le Dieu du carnage', the play was first performed in Zurich, Germany, in 2006.

The first English performance of the play was at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End in 2008, and starred Ralph Fiennes, Tamsin Greig, Janet McTeer and Ken Stott, and won the Laurence the Olivier Award for Best New Play the same year.

The following year God of Carnage had its Broadway debut at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre and starred Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden. This production won several Tony Awards including Best Play, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Director.

SunLive has three double passes to give away to three lucky reader who can tell us how many actors star in God of Carnage?

Enter online at www.sunlive.co.nz under the competition section. All entries must be received by Sunday, August 28.

16th Ave Theatre presents God of Carnage Doubles which is on stage until Saturday,September 10. Tickets cost $23-27 and are available online from iTicket or over the counter at the Tauranga i-Site on Willow Street. For more information visit: 16avetheatre.co.nz

To read a review of God of Carnage make sure to check out The Weekend Sun this Friday.

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