‘God of Carnage’, A Ballarat National Theatre Production
Minerva Space
Thursday 16 October, Friday 17 October & Saturday 18 October at 7.30pm
Saturday 18 October & Sunday 19 October at 2pm
After the event of school yard bullying, four parents differing views may have just created cause for another round; adults edition.
God of Carnage is a one act black comedy play. It won best comedy at the 2009 Tony Awards
and the 2009 Laurence Olivier Awards.
The play begins with Michael and Veronica, parents of young Henry, inviting Alan and Annette, parents of Benjamin, to their home to discuss the horrifying event that occurred on the playground that morning.
Eleven-year-old Henry refused to let classmate Benjamin join his gang. Not taking this dismissal lightly, Benjamin armed himself with a stick and knocked out Henry’s two front teeth.
With polite niceties wearing thin, the audience watches four very different people try to resolve this matter, convincing each other that it was not the fault of their own son, rather that of the other. With accusations being hurled around the room, the argument heats up even further when evaluating matters of racism, sexism and homophobia. By evening’s end, the gloves are well and truly off, with the adults behaving in a manner that is eerily similar to that which occurred on the playground.
Playwright – Yasmina Reza
Yasmina Reza is a French playwright, actress, novelist and screenwriter best known for her plays ‘Art’ and God of Carnage. Many of her brief satiric plays have reflected on contemporary middle-class issues.
In 1994, ‘Art’ premiered in Paris and went on to win the Molière Award for Best Author. Since then it has been produced internationally and translated and performed in over 30 languages. The London production, produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, received the 1996–97 Laurence Olivier Award. It also won the Tony Award for Best Play.
God of Carnage opened in London in March 2008, directed by Matthew Warchus in a translation by Christopher Hampton starring Ralph Fiennes, Tamsin Greig, Janet McTeer and Ken Stott. It was produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, their second collaboration with Reza. The London production won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. The play premiered on Broadway with an opening night cast of James Gandolfini, Jeff Daniels, Marcia Gay Harden, and Hope Davis. God of Carnage won Best Play at the 2009 Tony Awards.
Directed by Ruby Abbott
Ruby is a local creative artist, working as an actor, director, and producer. God of Carnage marks Ruby’s full length directorial debut.
Ruby has been involved in many productions in Ballarat and surrounds. She has performed several times with Ballarat National Theatre, including in Mr Bennet’s Bride (2022), Dust and Ruin (2023), A Date With Death (2024) and Dancing at Lughnasa (2024).
Ruby has previously served as an assistant director for many productions, including The Haunted Theatre (2025), Sister Cities (2024), and The Servant of Two Masters (2021).
Ruby is currently directing the short play Pink and Blue Apps for Creswick Theatre Company’s Twelve Minute Play Festival A Colour, premiering in May 2025.
Tickets: $25 adults, $20 Concession, $18.00 BNT members, $10 Children, $10 Group (minimum of 10 tickets). Ticket sales close 1 hour prior to the performance.
Ballarat National Theatre are a BMI Community Partner
Find out more about BMI Community Partnerships below.
This event is part of the Victorian/Ballarat Seniors Festival
This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.
